SEAL_ A Bad Boy Romance - Faye, Carmen

This is a work of fiction. Any names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons--living or dead--is entirely coincidental. SEAL copyright @ 2016 by Carmen Faye. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embedded in critical articles or reviews.

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CHAPTER ONE “Did you want to use that or were you just checking it out for size?” Emmy Roth had never been so embarrassed in all of her life. She had been practically drooling over the most attractive man she’d ever seen—in or out of a United States Navy uniform— since their eyes had caught soon after she got off the plane. One day she’d be able to walk over to a man like that, crook her finger, and have him follow her to the nearest flat surface…but not today. Looking at something she knew she couldn’t have made her want to tune him out altogether. She gathered her

luggage, which was only a very small bag, bought herself the extra-large frozen caramel coffee drink and looked down at the list that was going to be complete when she finished her time in Hawaii. It was like her mission that she chosen to accept. Have a one night stand with a sexy stranger Wear a bikini in public Learn to swim Buy a sexy black dress (and actually wear it) Wear high heels Jump into a waterfall like they do in the movies Surf

Find out who Emmy Roth really is This was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime, and she looked down at her todo list to see what she could accomplish that day. It wasn’t that she’d needed it out right now, but somehow, just holding that pink piece of paper in her hand made her feel like she could actually accomplish the items that were on it. Emmy was a list maker, and if she was going to make the most of her time, she needed to have her goals set and be ready to cross them off. She was trying to hold too many things at once. While she was trying to juggle her

bags, her bucket list, and her iced coffee drink, she ran right into the very man she’d been avoiding. It was like she saw the whole thing happen in slow motion. She must have squeezed the cup, as she attempted to clutch everything and make sure it didn’t drop, but it got all over the man’s tan uniform. She remembered the napkins she’d taken from the café where she purchased her beverage and reached into her purse to get them. “I’m so sorry. Let me get that.” She started wiping off the whipped cream and coffee.

“It’s okay, really,” he tried to grab her hand, but she wanted to make sure she cleaned up her mess. “Really,” he said again and lifted her chin so that she could look into his face. She was so easy to fluster. Everyone who knew her knew that, but this man didn’t know her from the man on the moon. Emmy got sucked into his cornflower blue eyes; she saw fatigue, amusement, and… was that arousal? “Unf…” The slight grimace he had on his face, as he moved his hand to hers made her really notice what she was doing. Looking down she saw that the cleaning she had been trying to

accomplish had ended up with her rubbing the area around his most private parts, and a large, hard shape had sprung up under her hand. Then, she found she had wrapped her hand around his girth and was slowly stroking him up and down. His hand looked like it was in limbo, as he tried to decide if he was going to show her the stroke he liked the best or move her hand away. This man probably thought she was a prostitute with the way she was rubbing on him and acting like a hot-pants floozy. She jumped away from him, hoping she didn’t look as surprised as she was.

“I’m so sorry to mess up your uniform and for… ummm… the other stuff. I don’t usually molest men in the middle of a crowded airport,” she said, as she looked the man up and down. He was even bigger up close than he’d been when she’d spotted him as she exited her plane. The beverage she’d gotten was supposed to cool down her libido because looking at the body of the man in front of her made all her best bits tingle. “It’s alright. The coffee blends right in.” His voice was deep, and it rolled over her nerves like a calming balm—even as it kept her sexually frustrated. “My clothes have been through much worse,

and I don’t think I’ve ever had such an inviting greeting.” “That wasn’t a greeting. I was trying to clean you up.” Her voice’s pitch seemed to jump up into the Minnie Mouse range, as she tried to explain herself. It didn’t help that after she’d wiped off of his clothes, her hand had lingered on the long, hard cock that had grown while she fumbled around. When he called her on her actions, she was almost molesting the man in public. “I’m kidding with you. I guess I shouldn’t, but you look like you are taking this so hard… bad pun… and we are in paradise. Loosen up.” He bent

over to pick up some of the things that had fallen out of her hand. This man didn’t look like he would have a poetic bone in his body, but the fact that he was trying not to make her feel like burying herself under the sand—and that she’d never had the attention of a man like this—made her stop judging him. She decided to start accomplishing some of the things she wanted to do with her life. One was to break free of her anxiety. She was so fearful and had so many second thoughts about her life that she’d missed out on a lot of opportunities. “I guess you’re right; we are in

paradise,” she said, as she snatched the pink paper with her list on it out of his hands. Hopefully, she’d taken it from him before he got a good look at what it was. That would be even more embarrassing than the one-sided fondling session she’d had with him. The expression on his face was still pleasant and not like he’d just found out he was standing next to a woman who carried around instructions on how to make her life and vacation better. “So we should do what people do while in paradise, right? Let me buy you a drink. Then, maybe we can get rid of the worry on your face,” he said, and she was sure then that he hadn’t seen her

missive. He was sexy, built, and beautiful—and even though the first thing she had on her list mentioned a sexy stranger, she made a mental note to revise. She would have to know something about the person because she’d drive herself crazy with questions if she didn’t know a little about the man. “I don’t even know your name,” she said, upset with herself that she couldn’t just go with the flow. This man was definitely not going to be the sexy stranger she had a one-night stand with, but people were crazy these days. She had to at least get some information— even from a man like this.

“I’m sorry. I’m Lieutenant Commander Matthew Perrier, but you can call me Matt.” He put out his large, stronglooking hand, and she placed hers into the warmth of his. The energy started with their combined hands but seemed to spread across her body in a pleasant rush of sensations. It wasn’t like a hot flash but a slow but steady stream that warmed her in the freezing cold of the airport. She was concentrating so much on the way her body was reacting to his she was almost startled when he cleared his throat. Emmy looked up at him and recalled that she was supposed to be giving him some information.

“Oh, yeah… umm…. My name is Emmy Roth.” She could feel the flush of her skin getting hotter, and she knew that she probably looked like a red tomato, but this man made her more nervous than most—even as she was trying to appear like she met men like him all the time. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said. There was something about him that she liked. Most people may not have been so nice when you spilled a large coffee on them before practically stroking them off when you tried to clean your mess, but this man didn’t make her feel dirty or ashamed. In fact, he was trying to get her to calm down. This was going to be a

great vacation; she was already learning something. Note to self: Hot men make me stupid. Good to know. She nodded, and he picked up her bag and his before he walked to the nearest bar. It looked like every Hawaiianbased party she’d ever attended with Tiki lamps, coconut drinks, and culturally correct music. Yet, somehow it felt more real here than at all the backyard barbeque Tiki parties she’d ever been to. He gestured for her to sit down, and then he folded his body into the semi-circle booth. Sliding in next to her, she was fascinated by how he fit his large frame

—that had to be at least six foot five— into the small space so gracefully. It was hard to believe this was her life right now. Just a week ago, she’d graduated with a Master’s degree in accounting, and she’d found out that her great-aunt— whom she loved so much but had passed a few months ago—had left her a large sum of money so she could explore the world and find herself. When the waitress came over to take their orders, she brought chips and two glasses of water. Although she smiled at Emmy when she came to the table, she mostly directed the conversation to Matt. “What would you like, Emmy?”

She didn’t think she’d ever heard her name sound so delicious coming out of a person’s mouth, but she was quick to come up with an answer so he didn’t think she was absent minded…or worse. “I’ll have a Blue Hawaiian.” “Sounds good. I think I’ll have a local beer if you have one on tap,” he said to the dark-haired woman in the coconut bikini and grass skirt. Emmy watched the not-so-subtle flirting that was swirling all around her and decided to concentrate on something that would be more uplifting. First and foremost, she was just happy to be off

the plane and on solid ground. That was something she didn’t consider when she was planning this trip. Flying wasn’t her strong suit, but here she was in Honolulu, Hawaii, a place she’d never have believed she would be. The waitress gave Matt a thousand watt smile before she turned and walked away with a sway in her hips. Too bad Matt didn’t even see it since she could tell he was watching her. “So what brings you to Honolulu? Is it pleasure or business?” Matt seemed to be trying hard to make her feel comfortable by being casual. He didn’t know she had severe anxiety, so maybe she could pretend she didn’t have it

either. This is what she was supposed to be doing—getting out from under her rock, having some fun, and making changes in her life to get her to move from introverted and shy to independent and free. “Pleasure. I’ve always wanted to come here, so after I finished college, I thought I’d treat myself.” She picked up the water and took a sip. Whether it was the company or the situation, she didn’t know, but her mouth was quite parched. “Congratulations on your graduation,” he said with a smile on his face. “Why are you here?” She had wanted to

know what would bring a man like this to paradise and why was he traveling alone with no ring or other noticeable signs of being married. It could have come out a bit bluntly, but the smile he granted her relaxed her just a bit more. Being awkward wasn’t taken kindly by most people, and she was often thought of as being rude instead of just impulsive. “I’ve been in and out of missions for a good long while, so I had a few days off before I go back in the field, and I wanted a bit of R and R with sandy beaches and beautiful people.” He made it sound so cut and dry, but there was a weariness that underscored those words,

and she wished she could help. The waitress was back with their drinks as if on cue from Matt’s last sentence. “Blue Hawaiian for the lady and a local draft beer for you. Would you like anything else?” Emmy didn’t know how that woman had made that simple question sound like an invitation to warm her bed until the morning, but that’s what it sounded like to Emmy. She didn’t want to have to sit here and watch what was going to happen with them, so she just studied her drink and looked at all the other customers in the bar. Travelers… some weary and others fresh-faced filled the

seats and created a friendly chatter that she concentrated on to calm herself. Matt slid closer to her and put his arm around her shoulders. “Hey, babe, did you want anything else?” She looked up at him and almost couldn’t believe what was happening. He was picking her between the two of them? “No… no,” she stuttered, but then she cleared her throat and attempted to present a more confident front. She placed a quick kiss on his mouth. “I’ve got all that I need.”

The look on the waitress’s face fell a few notches, and Emmy didn’t recognize the woman inside herself that had appeared a few seconds ago. She would have bet that she didn’t have it in her to kiss a stranger, but she had more confidence in the words she’d written on her paper. The giggle that started inside her grew into laughter, and Matt joined her with his own. They both continued, as the woman walked away. “She was something, huh?” he said when their laughing subsided. “That probably happens to you all the time.”

He sipped his beer but continued looking at her. It was then she knew that he wasn’t going to admit to that. This man carried himself in such a way that it screamed alpha male. One look at him and she was almost a soggy puddle in the middle of the floor. This man looked like he could fight, fuck, and protect without hesitation or second thought. Not that she needed the first or the third thing on the list, but she wanted to see if the second thing was right. “Where are you staying?” he asked in lieu of answering that question. “I’m at the Blue Hawaiian actually.” There must have been a nice amount of

alcohol in this drink because she was feeling warm and giggly. The warmth could have come from him still having his arm around her, but she wasn’t sure. Whatever it was, she was really enjoying herself. “So am I.” “Do you have plans for the things you want to do while you’re here on the island?” She had done her research for what was exciting and fun, but she always wanted to know what other people were doing—in case there was something she hadn’t thought of. “In my regular life almost everything I

do is planned out, so for the next few days I’ll just be doing what I want… when I want.” “That sounds like a great plan.” She sipped her drink and hoped that her tone and inflection of her voice didn’t match how she really felt about that. “You’re more of a list maker I take it?” he asked in a low voice, like he didn’t want anyone to hear it. “Is there something wrong with lists?” “Not a thing, but sometimes being spontaneous can be pretty thrilling, too.”

She didn’t really know how to respond to that because she’d never tried it. Maybe I should add that to my list. He was sitting there with his arm around her in this very dim establishment, watching her like he knew exactly what kind of timid mouse she was. However, that was the whole point of trying to find herself… well, trying to find the version of herself that she could like. The smirk on his face taunted her, as did the fact that she would probably never be this close to a man with a body and personality like this again. In the name of spontaneity, she quickly put her mouth on his and opened just a little so she could

taste him. He wasn’t responding to her advances, and she was mortified. This is what the waitress had felt, but it is possible that this is a little worse. Maybe that’s not what he meant, or I’d taken my desires and made myself think he feel this way too because he offered to buy me a drink. “I’m sorry,” she said, as she started to move out from under his arm. There was a low deep sound that came from him before he curled his hand around the back of her neck and brought her mouth back toward his. He licked her lips with a quick swipe of his tongue and growled like he liked her flavor.

“No need to be sorry it was on your list, right?” His lips crushed into hers, and it was unlike any kiss she’d ever had. Most of the first kisses that she was a part of started off slowly and were soft and sensual, but this one was a completely different animal. She could barely get her brain to replay what he’d just said, and she didn’t want to because she knew that she would be embarrassed if she did. The venue was dark with only a few quasi-lit torches here and there, but they were in one of the darkest spots. He brought his hand up to cup her breast, and she whimpered when he found her

hardened nipple through her clothes and squeezed it firmly. She broke away from his kiss and sucked in a deep breath. He didn’t say anything, and she felt like she was lost in a storm. “Did you like that?” His voice was huskier now, and he sounded a bit out of breath. That made her feel a bit more at ease because her body felt like it was in the middle of a riot, awakened with sensations and ready to beg for more. Emmy nodded her head and then stared at his mouth. She wanted more, but he was just sitting there. “Yes. I did like it.” She hoped that giving him verbal consent

would make him continue the onslaught of pleasure she knew he could give her. He sat back in the seat and moved his hand from her breast and from around her neck, and she wondered if she’d done something wrong. Maybe he was just in from a long deployment and was shocked that he would have gone for someone with a few extra pounds and as plain as her. She refused to be upset about that. People liked what they liked, and he couldn’t help it if she didn’t fit the bill, but neither could she. When he turned his body toward her his hand settled on her thigh, and she wondered if he was going to tell her

something or if he was just trying to ease her body down from the euphoric high she’d thought it was about to go on. She didn’t look at him, but after a few minutes, she could feel him slowly hiking up the long skirt she’d worn for her long trip. It was a free-flowing skirt that was comfortable and cute in her opinion. When her skirt was gathered around her waist, she looked down to watch his fingers walk across her thighs toward her panties. It was almost mesmerizing, and she opened her legs just a little in anticipation of him reaching what she hoped was his destination. “Good girl,” he whispered, and she

shivered a little with the force of her arousal. She watched those two fingers like her next breath depended on them touching her, but that touch didn’t come. Emmy looked over at Matt, hoping the question she had was showing on her face because she didn’t think she would be able to voice that question out loud. The smile he bestowed upon her seemed bright in the dim room, but he moved his fingers the few inches needed to get to the place she wanted him to be. If she thought he was going to just dive in like he did with that kiss, she was mistaken. Running his thick finger up and down the

seam of her no-no place was sensual and decadent. He was acting like he had all the time in the world, and they weren’t in a public place. “Is this what you meant when you wrote you wanted to have sex with a stranger?” he asked softly. The gasp was so loud that came from her throat she looked around to see if anyone else had heard her or were looking at what they were doing. They must not have because the world didn’t stop and the fingers she thought would be pointed at her weren’t there. “I… how did you read that so quickly? I

thought I got to it before you could see it.” “I’m pretty good at reading quickly, and the pink piece of paper you’ve been holding like a lifeline since I saw you captured my interest, but you didn’t answer my question.” What question? He was rubbing from her hard bundle of nerves at the top of her sex to the entrance where he’d stop and push in a little each time he got there. It was hard to concentrate when he was doing what he was doing to her body and asking questions at the same time.

“I don’t know,” she said, feeling the embarrassment come back until he held his finger on her love button and pushed in harder than he had before. It was like it was a control panel for her hips because they started moving almost automatically, trying to grab the climax that was going to come soon. He released the button and went back to teasingly stroking her. “There will be none of that. If you want to find out who you are, you’re going to have to get honest with yourself.” “What? You only had that paper in your hand for a few seconds. No way you read all that?” She felt like she was

going into a panic. “Shhh… calm down. I probably didn’t see the whole thing; those things just jumped out at me.” She studied him to see if he was trying to make her feel better or if he was telling the truth, but he had such a good blank face she didn’t know how to read it. Emmy turned a bit towards him to get a better look at him, so she could ask a few questions herself. However, he took that moment to slide her panties to the side and insert one thick finger inside her. “You are so wet. Looks like you enjoy

getting groped by strangers in the dark. I bet you taste good, too.” He took his finger out and brought it to her lips. She was so shocked that he’d brought her wetness to her mouth that she opened just a bit to say something, but he rubbed his finger across her lips and then put it into her mouth. It was almost automatic that she wrapped her lips around his finger and started to suck. The taste wasn’t as bad as she thought it would have been. It was like a slightly citrusy tang that wasn’t as overpowering as the scent. She swore he growled a bit before he took out his finger, and his mouth closed over hers. He kissed her like he was starving, and she was happy to be

the entry he chose to eat. He moved his hand back to the spot he vacated before the sexy kiss started and plunged two fingers inside while he continued to kiss her. It was like sensory overload, and her body didn’t know what it was supposed to be doing. It chose to tighten up and release, as she tried to work her hips to get more and more out of the ride she was taking on his hand. The kiss masked the noise she would probably have made if he wasn’t stealing every breath she gave. When he pulled his fingers out of her body, he replaced her panties to their rightful spot

and lowered her dress. What does one say when something like this happens? Thank you? That was great? She had her list and now had the first thing crossed off, but she didn’t think it through, and now she was stumped. She looked over at him, and he returned her gaze just as he sucked the two fingers that he’d pleasured her with into his mouth. “Check please,” Matt called out in a loud angry voice.

CHAPTER TWO For as long as Matt had been alive, he’d had a favorite type of woman. He tried to stay away from that type, but sometimes it was just difficult. Quiet, nurturing, unknowingly or unbelievingly sexy and open, it was like that type of woman called him. However, he’d rather have the shallow sexpots who knew they were hot and only wanted a good, hard fuck. Good, hard fucks he could do, but he didn’t have the lifestyle that enabled him to truly give a fuck about anyone. He’d seen this beauty as soon as she’d stepped off her plane, and her fresh face

and eyes filled with excitement called to him like a siren. She was curved in all the right places, and she looked like she would jump far and wide if he said boo, which she did. He’d watched her get her coffee drink, and he’d waited for her. There were a large number of people there, and he wondered if she wanted to share a cab. That’s what he told himself anyway. He was trying to be helpful, and when he touched her arm, she startled so badly that everything flew everywhere. Matt wanted to tell her that he was sorry for scaring her, but then she started cleaning up the coffee that he didn’t even realize spilled on him. He got her attention, but just as he did she wrapped

her hand around his almost fully hard cock and started stroking him softly. He looked into her eyes and didn’t think she was even aware of what she was doing. The fact she had a list of the things she wanted to do during her trip was cute, but the first item on the list made him hot and harder than he was before. He was a stranger, and if she just wanted to experience a one-night stand, he could do that. She was a forever kind of girl, but maybe she was just trying out her wings. When he finger banged her in the restaurant, he could tell she wasn’t a virgin, but she wasn’t overly experienced. Her deep brown hair had a reddish cast and her eyes seemed to

match, but it was her full lips and wet mouth that he was most excited to experience. When she came on his fingers, pumping hard and breathing deep, he was turned on more than he had been in a good long while. He was rougher than he was before his tours of duty and had secondguessed himself about taking this sweet peach home and tasting her for hours. He got a whiff of her scent on the fingers he’d fucked her with, and her pussy smelled so good he had to taste her. Sucking his fingers into his mouth, he looked at her to complete the circle for himself. The expression on her face made him want to lean her back on seat,

spread her legs, and taste her sweet nectar from the source. He called for the check so that he wouldn’t spread a harsh light for the Navy, as public displays of affection weren’t something you were supposed to let happen, and so far he’d been very lucky on that score. They sat in a cab, and Matt wondered what was going through her mind. He’d not said much since they left the little restaurant in the airport, and he wasn’t good at small talk when his cock was hard enough to pound nails, but she was looking everywhere but at him. That either meant a change of heart or guilt. He hoped that this woman wasn’t taken, and he fought down the anger that came

with that thought. Here he was, trying to make himself believe that she wouldn’t get all hung up on him after one night and he was acting like a possessive fool. “Any reason you came to this beautiful place all by yourself?” His voice was gruffer than it had a right to be, but just the smell of her light fragrance was making him want to rub his cock against something… like her wet pussy or her soft mouth. “Just getting out in the world and seeing what I can see,” she answered and looked at him briefly. However, she was saved from any other conversation because they had reached their

destination. He helped her out of the cab, paid the tab, and followed her into the hotel. Their rooms were on the same floor but not right next to each other, and they separated when she got to her room. He walked a few doors down on the other side of the hall and opened his room with the plastic card key. It was better like this. She could just go into her room and have her fun, and he would do the same. He looked down and saw that she’d not even tried to open her door. “Are you going to go in?”

She looked at the door and then back at him. “I was hoping you’d come in for a drink. I could… ummm… repay you for the drink you bought me at the airport.” Matt threw his bags on the bed and came back out into the hall. He’d tried to do the right thing and let this go—even though his cock felt like it was going to blow in record time from his own hand. However, she needed to know a few things before they got started. He walked toward her and put his hand out for her card. When she placed the cool plastic in his hand, he opened her door and waited for her to enter. She had

barely put her bags down before he came at her from behind and turned her around. Emmy’s eyes were wide with excitement, and he didn’t know why that made him so angry. “Do you think it’s safe for you to let just anyone into your room? Although we’ve had a drink, it’s not safe for a woman to be with a man that she doesn’t know and have no one else know she’s with them.” He watched the arousal turn to fear and thought that he may have been a tad harsh, but she was going to be out here on her own. She needed to think about this.

“I know your name and rank, and I’ve texted it to my best friend with a picture of your face and your ass. Sorry. The last picture probably wasn’t necessary, but I had to share.” She looked so smug, and he had to admit that she deserved to have that look on her face. The grin that split his face was almost ridiculous. His girl had smarts, and that counted for something. “Now there is one more thing that I want to talk to you about.” The smile left his face because this was the kicker, and he liked for all parties to know what they were getting into before they started. It wasn’t like they couldn’t bow out if and when it got

too rough, but he wanted them to know how he was up front. Some women saw his uniform and expected a gentleman, and although he was a gentlemen when it was expected of him, he liked his sex a bit wild. “What?” she asked, staring into his eyes. He felt like she needed a bit of a demonstration to go along with what he was going to say, so he backed her up against the wall and pinned her hands above her head with one of his. It was killing him to look at her all stretched out with her breasts jutting out, her eyes wide and her mouth open. “You are one beautiful woman… soft,

pliant, and you look like you’d enjoy sweet kisses and love pats on your ass, but I’m not built that way. I like to fuck —sometimes hard, fast, and deep, and sometimes slow, hard, and deep. Either way it’s a rough, hard ride, and I like to be clear on that up front. I’d want to suck on these hard nipples that have been taunting me since I first laid eyes on you, and I want to devour your pussy before my hard cock fucks it.” Emmy was breathing so hard he thought she may hyperventilate. He was not really sure which way this was going, but he thought he’d let her know what this was about. He ran the hand that wasn’t holding hers down her body.

Starting with her cheek and working his way down to her breasts. He pinched each one between his fingers and enjoyed her shivering response to his touch. “I just want to make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into. I wanted to give you an out, and maybe that is why I was so quiet all the way here, but you’ve invited the big bad wolf into your room. As much as I’d love to eat your goodies and huff and puff all over your sexy body, I want to give you the chance to change your mind.” He rubbed his thumb back and forth across her nipple, hoping with half of his heart that she’d say never mind while the other half wanted

her to love the way he was talking to her and want more. She wasn’t saying anything, and his cock felt like it was going to rip through his pants and make the decision for everyone involved. “No answer is answer enough for me. I’m going to step away from you and leave, Emmy.” He gave her a chaste peck on the cheek and let her arms go, so he wasn’t prepared when she lurched at him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Wait,” she said, as she looked up at him. “Sometimes it takes me a while to

get my words together, and that was the hottest thing I’ve ever heard that wasn’t in a movie.” He didn’t say anything because she didn’t really answer the question, and that verbal consent was very important to him. She looked like she was stuck, and he wanted to help her, but he’d said enough. “I… I’m… I don’t want to change my mind. I want all that you said and more. You don’t scare me. Give me whatcha got. I can take it.” She looked like she believed her bravado. Good for her. To him, she looked like a delicious morsel that was exactly what he wanted—even

though he hadn’t ordered it. “Alright then.” He walked back and drop down on her bed. “Strip.” “What? I’m not prepared. I got the Brazilian wax, but I wanted to be ready.” “You think the bra and panty set you wanted to decorate yourself with will be missed? I can smell the scent of your hot pussy on my fingers, and it’s killing me not to tear each and every piece of cloth off of your body. I’ve been hard since my fingers entered your body and you made that sweet, sexy noise. I just want you unwrapped, and I’m hoping that in

the time it takes for you to take off your clothes, I’ll calm myself to feeling a bit less savage.” She took off the soft, cotton V-neck tshirt and the long, flowing skirt; that left her in her bra and panties. They were both white, simple cotton and shouldn’t have turned him on as much as it did. She reached behind her back, unfastened her bra, and let her tits—that had to be a full C or small D cup—fall out. “Stop!” he said, in a voice louder than he had intended. She stripped without much finesse, but his body was responding like she had her own stripper pole and was pumping the floor doing

tricks. “What’s the matter?” she asked, with a voice so small he wanted to kick his own ass for shaking her confidence. “Nothing, you just look so good I wanted to help unwrap you.” He got up and walked over to her, noting that she was more than what she looked like. This woman wasn’t one to turn away from a challenge, and he was so glad to be the stranger she was going to have a onenight stand with. He hoped she was ready because his sexual appetite hadn’t been fed in a few months—and he was hungry as hell. Her big brown eyes got bigger with every step he made towards

her. “Do I need a safe word?” She looked up at him, and he hoped he didn’t look as terrifying as he felt. “If it makes you feel better to have one. It’s fine with me, but a simple stop or no would work, too.” “I want my word to be ‘orange soda.’” “That’s an odd safe word. Any reason why?” “I don’t like orange soda.” “Alright. That’s fine by me.” He led her

to the large mirror next to the television and stood behind her. Moving his hands up her body, he cupped the full, juicy tits that had been giving him fits since he saw her. He squeezed them in his hands, like he was checking for ripeness of a piece of fruit and enjoyed the quick intake of her breath. “You’ve got great tits, Emmy. Has anyone ever told you that?” She nodded and then shook her head. “Which one is it?” He took her nipples between his finger and thumb and pulled them out so her breasts were stretched out before her. The look on her face made his cock jump in his pants. She

was probably ready and able to take what he could dish out. “I don’t know,” she whispered, and he recognized the sound. She didn’t want to talk about anything other than what was going on now. That was fine with him, but he wasn’t done with her bags of fun. Spinning her around, he bent a bit to suck one of her nipples into his mouth and bit it lightly with his teeth while he pinched the other nipple. She grabbed his head and held him in place, and he sucked harder on the nipple he was already tasting. If she wanted him to be right where she put him, he was going to make the most out of it. He pulled off,

and the soft pop that came out of his mouth as he let his treasure go made him want more. “I want you to suck my cock.” He placed his finger on her lips, and she sucked him into her mouth. “Yes. That’s what I want you to do.” He grabbed her breasts again and rolled the nipples around between his fingers, and she dropped to her knees in front of him. He let go when he saw she was going to hurt herself, but he was excited she wanted to get down there as fast as she could. She looked up at him, like she didn’t know what to do next.

“Get my cock out of my pants.” She unbuttoned and unzipped his pants before reaching in to pull out his throbbing, aching cock. Emmy looked like a fish out of water, and he wanted to help her, but he also wanted her sucking on his cock. Placing his hand on the back of her head, he brought her forward to guide her. She licked the underside of his cock lightly and tenderly. Emmy had to be aware that he didn’t do light and soft because she’d just agreed to the stipulations, but that’s what it looked and felt like she was doing.

He pushed her forehead back just a little so she’d lift her gaze to his face, but it also opened up her mouth a little bit more. Sliding into her mouth, he made sure she could handle all the cock he was feeding her, but he needed more than she was giving with her sweet licks and tastes. “Ahh, baby… that’s it. Roll my balls in your hand.” He was glad that she followed directions well and seemed eager to please. She grew bolder in the strength of the pressure she was using on his cock. Pulling her up to her feet, he leaned over and sucked a hard nipple into his mouth while nipping her with his teeth every so often.

“Yes,” she whispered. When she slid her hand down to her pussy, Matt stopped her. “Not yet,” he said to her and watched the arousal grow even more. Damn. She likes instruction, too? This was something he would put in the back of his mind. But for what? This is a one and done, right? Matt liked the large mirror that went from the ceiling to the floor, giving them an up-close and personal view of what they were doing. He backed her up to the mirror and moved to place a chair in front of it. She stood there patiently

waiting to see what would happen next, and he thanked whatever had brought her to him this day. “Bend over and put your hands on the seat.” Looking at her round ass bend over made him happy that he was a SEAL in the United States Navy. He had control, but it was close to breaking. It couldn’t have been because of the length of time since he had an encounter like this because he’d gone for longer periods. She did as directed, and he stood there while she watched the mirror, as if waiting for what came next. That was it —the open minded curiosity that floored

him. She didn’t say much or do much more than pant and look at him beseechingly, but it worked more than if she were gyrating around the room in a dirty-mouthed tirade about how great his cock was. “Is making me crazy with waiting a part of your plan?” Her breathing was labored, and if he’d had to guess, he would say that was from excitement, but he wanted to keep an eye on her because she definitely wasn’t thinking of her “orange soda” safe word right now. “It’s not usually.” “Then, what are you doing?” She looked

confused, and he could see the selfdoubt forming like clouds on her face. “Spread your legs.” That husky voice filled the room, and he cleared his throat to bring some normalcy into his tone. He got to his knees and dove between her legs from the back. Lapping at the lips of her pussy and moving between her folds, he just couldn’t get enough. He turned so his head was against the seat of the chair, and he was facing her. Matt slid his hands up her smooth ass and pulled her closer to him. She squatted a little, so he could get his fill of her. His senses were filled with her smell, her taste, her noise—and he loved it all.

Taking both of his hands off her ass and slapping both cheeks at the same time brought to him a fresh wave of her juices to drown in. His cock throbbed and reminded him how much he needed to be taken care of, so he stopped the feast he was making of her pussy and stood up behind her. Matt was so thankful that she had listened to his spiel and was now at least partially ready for what she was about to get. The ripping of the condom’s wrapper was even stimulating for him, and he donned it quickly. He positioned the head of his cock toward her opening and pushed in—balls deep.

“Fuck…” The word was torn from his soul, and he slammed into her wet pussy again and again. She was a tight fit but so wet it made the glide nice. She was beginning to get into it, and that was turning him on even more. Bringing her back up to his chest, he enjoyed the pink flush of her skin and her warm ass on his thighs. “Look at us in the mirror.” She turned and watched what he was doing to her, and just like he’d hoped, it increased her breathing and he could feel the pounding of her heart. “Put your leg up on the seat. Open up, so I can fuck you harder.”

She did as directed and that movement turned her to face the mirror. He moved one hand lower to diddle her clit, and the other he brought up to her neck—all while he thrust balls deep into her wetness and enjoyed the slurping sound her body made as it accepted him. “You are incredibly sexy… aren’t you?” he said into her ear. She looked at herself—up and down in the mirror—but didn’t respond. He took her hard clit between his thumb and finger and rolled it around with a firm grip. She couldn’t seem to help the

pumping of her hips to get closer to the sensation, but he stopped almost as soon as he started. “Your face is flushed such a pretty pink, your tits are bouncing, and your open pussy looks delicious. You are amazing… say it.” He slowed his thrusts just a bit, and she continued to move like he hadn’t slowed down. Putting his hand on her mound, he slowed her down. “Say it,” he repeated. “You are fucking amazing,” she said, as she stared into his eye through the

mirror. It was like someone put an accelerant into his cock because he was coming right… damn… now and fuck if she wasn’t coming with him. He pulled his cock from her wet heat, picked her up, and tossed her on the bed. Her legs were spread and her eyes were glazed, like she was confused. Well, she can join the damn club. Matt moved up her body and lined up his cock with her opening and slammed in. The noise he was making sounded like an animal to his ears, but he couldn’t stop it. He latched on to her nipple and sucked hard in a rhythm that matched his

thrusts before he moved up to her ear. Faster and hard he went, as he tried to get deeper and deeper into her. She sat up and bit his shoulder, as her pussy gripped his shaft in a way that told him she had climaxed, and his balls emptied into the protective gear he’d placed on it. What the hell was that? He took a few seconds to get his breathing together before he got off of her and found some supplies to clean them up. It had only taken a few seconds, but when he returned, she was asleep in the middle of the bed. He wiped her off quickly and placed a blanket that was in the closet over her.

She was one hot piece of woman, and he hoped she found that out when she was trying to fulfill all the other things on her to do list. He’d helped her complete the first one—and helped himself as well. That was one of the best hook-ups he’d ever had, but no one-night stand was complete until you woke up by yourself, so he’d give her that, too. Gathering his clothes, he put on his underwear and hoped that no one was in the hallway, as he left his sleeping beauty to enjoy the rest of her vacation.

CHAPTER THREE Emmy woke up startled and naked. She looked around the room and found she was there alone, and the room looked like all the things she swore were done to her was a dream. She got up and felt the aches and pains that came with the memories of what she’d been through and smiled. He was such a beautiful man, and that dirty mouth he had was unbelievable. She didn’t’ think she’d ever heard anyone put those words together like that and sound so good. She wanted to say something back but was afraid it would sound stupid. Emmy decided she needed to work on that because she wanted to make someone

feel like Matt had made her feel. Matt was built like a model. Too bad she’d not been given much opportunity to explore his body, but she wanted to lick each and every defined muscle and tattoo. In his disclaimer, she was shocked he didn’t make her sign some sort of waiver. She got the implication that she wasn’t to try and contact him. It was bad enough that he was trying to help her obtain the first thing on her vacation to-do list, but she didn’t want to be anyone’s charity project. She wondered, If he hadn’t seen that list, would things have gone the way they did?

She knew she was fairly attractive in a plain-Jane-could-stand-to-lose-a-fewpounds kind of way, but he was one of those guys who could grace magazine or romance novel covers. He was out of her league in a major way, but she would be happy with what she had, and she’d make sure she didn’t act like a groupie or cling on. There were other things to do today, like put on a bikini and walk on the beach. After a long, hot shower and a breakfast of fruit, toast, and coffee, she was ready to put on the bikini. Maybe I should do it after lunch. No. Procrastination will get me nowhere. She put on the suit that she’d felt so confident in at the store, but

when she looked out her window at the beach and the beachgoers below, she didn’t know if she could do it. It was a high-waisted suit, so it wasn’t like it was a string bikini, but she was still self-conscious. She put on her robe, took a deep breath, and walked into the hall way. When she got to Matt’s door, she wanted to knock so bad it was like a compulsion, but she would not do it. Who knows, he may have had his own list and wanted to screw as many women as he could. She wouldn’t down his list; they all had their own needs and desires that they wanted to fulfill.

When she first found out that his room was down the hall from her, she was excited. However, now she wasn’t, because her stomach would be in knots every time she left the room, hoping she didn’t see him bring someone in. Am I ridiculous? Absolutely. Matt was a onenight stand… that means our time is up and we are both free agents. She got to the elevator and onto the board walk by putting one foot in front of the other. Yet, now that she was here on the beach, she knew she should actually take the floor length robe off, but she couldn’t seem to do so. It was a beautiful day, and the water looked refreshing, but she just couldn’t lay

down here with this suit. Maybe I could find a one piece with a skirt and try again. She took a step backward and bumped into someone. “Are you going down to lay on the beach or not?” The sexy voice was back, and her body responded like he told her to spread her legs and let him eat her pussy. She was wet and ready just from the one nonsexual sentence. Turning around, she wasn’t prepared for how Matt looked in the full light of day. He looked like a movie star or a Greek god. He must have been running because he was glistening, and his muscles were so defined. She

couldn’t find the words to say, and he smiled at her. “Are you wearing your bikini?” he asked, as he fiddled with her robe ties. “Hey,” she said shocked out of silence. “You read more of my list than you claimed.” He lifted one eyebrow. “Can I see your suit?” “I don’t know if I want to do this today. I’m thinking I can do some other things I wanted to do and come back another time.” She watched his face contort into a frown just a bit and didn’t like the way

his disappointment felt. What am I doing? He was her one-night stand—not someone who was supposed to mean anything to her. She shouldn’t place that much importance on his thoughts about what she was doing. He pulled the tie so that the robe fell open and the look on his face made her proud. She wondered if he did selfesteem classes or something. “Take the robe off, so I can see how you look.” Matt fiddled with the robe, and she tried to act like his touch didn’t make her warm. It was like he had something on him that made her want to lick him.

“I know what you’re doing. Trying to make me think I look okay so I won’t worry.” She squinted her eyes at him, hoping to see the truth somewhere. “Is that what you think?” he asked, moving closer to her. “Yes. That’s what I think. All this ‘You’re amazing’ crap, and now, ‘Can I see your suit?’…come on.” Somewhere in there Emmy had stopped being impressed by his beautiful body and face and had lurched into her normal silly self. Making weird impressions of him and his voice as she mimicked him. Unbelievably, his smile was even

bigger. “Well, you are amazing. Just the thought of your pussy makes me want to fuck you right here in the warm sand. I’ve been watching you stand her for the last five minutes, trying to decide if you were going to take off that large robe and show the world your fantastic body. I could tell you were talking yourself out of it.” He cocked one eyebrow at her, and she was lost. How in the world did he know that? “So you decided to come down and help me?” She knew she was a charity project to him, and she hated that.

“Actually, I just wanted to tease myself with what you look like in a bikini, with the sun shining on your skin, and the sound of the water lapping against the sand.” He always looked like he was amused—unless he looked like he was about to come. That thought had her stomach doing flips. She put down her stuff and took off her robe. “You happy now?” “Immensely. You look good in your suit. Looks like you had a rough night last night.” He touched her neck. “You’ve been marked.” “I know I was in bed with a crazy man,

but it was the best time I’ve ever had.” She admitted that to him because it was the truth, and she wanted to let him know that she’d enjoyed herself—in case she didn’t get to talk to him again. Looking around, she began to be aware of all the women in the area who were looking at this fine form of a man who stood out from the crowd. “Well, don’t let me keep you,” she said, as she picked up her items and then walked down the steps to the beach. That was difficult, but she didn’t want him to think he had to save her from herself—whether she appreciated it or not.

When she got to the spot she picked out, she set up her umbrella and chair. It took a few minutes, and she promised herself that she wouldn’t look back at him until she was done. He’d get bored and leave before she finished—of that she knew for sure. Plopping down on the chair, she looked back to where she’d left Matt and found him standing there watching her. She wondered what he was thinking, but he waved and jogged away. She lay on the beach and enjoyed the warmth on her skin. It had taken about fifteen minutes to realize that Matt had done it again. He’d gotten her so worked up about whatever she was fussing with

him about that she forgot to be anxious about her near nudity and her size in this bikini. Damned if she’d thank him, but she chuckled at his brilliance because she knew he’d done all of that on purpose. There was a man coming toward her with a drink, and Emmy watched him come her way. She intended to ask him for a beverage when he delivered that delicious drink to wherever it was going, but he stopped right in front of her. “A drink for the lady,” the young man said, as he set down a flip table and the drink he was carrying.

“Who sent it?” she asked, knowing who it was but wanted to see what clever name Matt would put down. “A secret admirer.” The man wagged his eyebrows at her, and she laughed. “Well, tell the secret admirer thank you for me.” “I think he has plans to come over and collect the thank you himself.” Emmy picked up her drink and watched the young bartender walk away. This is what she thought her life would be like on the beach. She knew that her admirer

was Matt, but she found herself giddy to see him again. Who knew, maybe she would thank him for giving her the confidence to sit here on the beach, because once she got down here, it was fine and she’d had no problems. “Can I sit here? I brought my drink over so we can share a drink together.” A voice from beside her said. He was standing up with the sun at his back so all she could see was the blinding sun. She knew one thing; it wasn’t Matt. “Ummm… sure.” She looked around and found she wasn’t in a very populated area. When she’d been standing on the boardwalk with Matt, it seemed to be

more public. She shouldn’t worry too much though because there were people in shouting distance, and she was supposed to be meeting new people and finding out more about herself in the process. However, something about this guy just didn’t sit well with her. It was probably because he was nothing like Matt, and that’s who she really wanted to spend some time with. “I saw you sitting here all alone. A pretty girl shouldn’t have to be by herself,” he said, as he looked into her eyes. They were a beady shape, and the way he was looking at her breasts made her uncomfortable. It was like he was trying to figure out how he could taste

them. He also kept hitting the front of his swimming trunks, like he was covertly playing with his dick, as he salivated at her cleavage. She cleared her throat, hoping that would get him to use some manners. “I like being by myself.” She didn’t want the drink anymore if it came with this guy. Emmy knew she had no business taking it when she didn’t know who it had come from, but she assumed—which her father always said stood for make an “ass out of U and me”—was coming from Matt. “You like sitting by yourself because you’ve not spent any time with me.” He

sat down on the lounge chair—uninvited. She wasn’t sure what she should do. She had barely even seen his face because he was trying so hard to get a closer view of her breasts. “Excuse me, sir. You are making me very uncomfortable. I’m going to have to ask you to leave.” She tried to move away from him and hoped that he’d listen to what she said. His head snapped up, and she saw his eyes were a navy blue, and they were filled with rage. “Bitch, I bought you a drink, and you accepted it. The custom is for you to

share the time you spend drinking it with me.” “I didn’t know I was selling myself by accepting your drink, but now that I know, you can have it back. I hope you got your fill of looking at my tits because that as close as you’re ever going to get. You need to learn some manners.” She got up because it didn’t look like he was going to leave quietly, and she wasn’t going to fight him. He pulled her back down onto his lap and looked both ways before trying to grope at her breast. “Let me just suck on one of those fat nipples for a second, and I’ll leave you alone. We can call it

even.” Emmy reached down behind her and put her hands in his shorts, reaching blindly for his dick. “Yeah, baby. It’s always the big girls who are the freakiest. Stroke me off right here. Nobody can see. You like that don’t you. Dirty whore. You can be my dirty whore. I’ll feed you this cock until you gag on it. You’d like that, huh, wouldn’t’ you, baby.” The man was getting himself all worked up on his own words, not even noticing that Emmy was trying not to either cry or throw up. She got his prick and his balls in her

hand and twisted as hard as she could. The screeching yell sounded like a strange animal being tortured, but she stayed on his lap and hung on. This fucker had messed with the wrong woman on the right day. She was so tired of people thinking that they could just run right over her. She may have had issues with self-esteem, but the fact that this man wanted to take that and use it against her was making her even more upset. If it wasn’t her, it would have been someone else this man deemed fat or ugly. “No one deserves to be treated like you just treated me. You keep your dirty hands and filthy looks off me. I can’t

believe there are monsters.” She let go of his mangled manhood and stood up. The drink that had looked so fresh and inviting just made her angry looking at it. She picked it up and dumped it on his head before she walked off. She wanted to wash her hands because who knew where that man and his dirty dick had been. Damn it. She didn’t want to leave all her shit there, but she just picked up her purse, shoes, and towel and left the chair and umbrella where it was. Maybe she could talk to someone in management about going to get it for her later this afternoon.

The nerve of that guy. Just thinking that because I have a few extra pounds on my frame that I would be willing to go to bed with just anyone. Maybe he knows about Matt and knows that I got fingered in a restaurant where anyone could have seen me… but who cares if I did. Even if he did see what happened between two consenting adults that doesn’t mean he can get it in just because he wants to. She opened the door to the hotel and couldn’t even enjoy the coolness of the air conditioner because she was fuming. It was like the further she was from the situation the angrier she got. “Hey there, Emmy,” Matt said from

behind her. What’s up with everyone coming up on me where I can’t see them? She whirled on him, “What do you want?”

CHAPTER FOUR Matt didn’t know what was going on with Emmy, but when he’d seen her marching into the hotel lobby like the devil was at her heels, he wondered what he’d missed. After he left her, he got a bit to eat and then took a shower. He was actually getting ready to find her out on the beach when she stormed past him. When he caught up with her, she whirled on him with heaving breaths and adrenaline running through her like wildfire. He held his hands up to his chest, as he waited for her to get it together and realize he wasn’t a threat. However, he

really wanted to ask whose ass he needed kick. “I’m sorry,” she said, once she caught her breath. It looked like the adrenaline had left her in one fell swoop, and she was exhausted. “Tell me what happened,” he said, as he pulled her into a hug. She settled into his arms, and he wasn’t going to think about how right this felt. This wasn’t his normal routine—emotional women, comfort in public places, the fire in his belly to maim the person who’d done this to her. He had to pull himself together, too.

She pushed off his chest gently. “It’s nothing. I’m okay. Go about your day.” He caught her arm. “That’s not going to work. I want to know who made you run like that. Did someone threaten you?” “I’m not a child, Matt. I know you read my list and feel like I need some assistance with every area of my life, but I can handle myself.” “I know you aren’t a child; believe me, I know. The reason I keep coming back is because I enjoy your company. Did I want to help you fulfill the items that I could on your list? Yes. I enjoy your company.”

“And I’m an easy lay?” He’d been around enough women to know when one wanted to fight, and even though he hadn’t been the one to bring the anger out of her, he was going to have to be the one to deal with it. “I don’t remember that being on your list. Did you want to be an easy lay?” He backed her up against the wall in the alcove and brought his mouth down to taste her. “Someone got your panties all twisted up, and you are ready to let loose on someone. I’m willing to let that be me.”

She wrapped her arms around his head and pulled him down to kiss her, and she did it almost exactly the way he’d kissed her yesterday. Like she was hungry and had found what she wanted to eat. Emmy looked almost frantic, and he hoped that pushing her right now was the best thing to do. “So, Emmy, do you want to ride my cock, or do you want me to eat your pussy? Pick which ever you like, but you need to come hard and let go of whatever has you worked up—unless you want to deal with it another way.” “Which other way?” She looked leery

but interested. “I can go find the bastard and fuck him up.” She smiled. “What makes you think it was a guy that made me so mad?” “Well, you came back with only a few of the things you left with, so you left quickly. You look flushed and agitated, so that tells me that the confrontation was rather heated. Plus, I don’t think you’d be walking that quickly from a female.” “What are you an investigator?” she asked him, like she was amazed that

he’d figured all that out from the information he’d received “What I am is tuned into you.” He could tell that she wasn’t sure about the choices he gave her, so he had another idea. “I’m ready to do something else on your list.” She looked at him intrigued. “Go into the pool and wait for me in the shallow end.” He walked off to find the manager. It took a few minutes to talk the man into giving him what he wanted. Matt wasn’t surprised; he was a negotiator and master sniper, so he usually found a way to get his way.

When he got to the pool, Emmy was laying on a chair by the pool, like she was asleep. “Is that where I told you to wait for me?” She smiled with her eyes closed. “I wondered what my punishment would be for not following the rules.” “Someone is wanting to be punished?” he questioned. She just sat there with her eyes wide, and she’d sucked her bottom lip between her teeth. Fuck, that is hot. He put his thumb on the lip she was biting on and pulled down until she let go, but then she

surprised him by pulling his thumb into her mouth and sucking on it like it was his cock. This wasn’t his plan exactly, but he had a way to make what they both wanted to happen. He withdrew his thumb from her mouth, and they both moaned. “It’s taking all I have not to pull out my cock and slip it between your shiny lips. You look hungry, Emmy. Didn’t I feed you well enough last night?” He watched her eyes widen and wondered what she was cooking up in her head. Matt stood up and walked backward to the pool. “There is no one else in here. Did you plan this?”

He watched her but didn’t say anything. “I think you did, or you would stop me from doing this.” She pulled one of the strings on her bikini top and it fell down, leaving her big tits exposed to the air. She wasn’t out in the sun all that long, but he could tell the difference between the skin that was kissed by the sun and the skin that was hidden. She squeezed her boobs together and then pulled the nipples away from her body before she shook them a bit. Why that had practically made him a mindless zombie, he didn’t know. “Men just love boobs, huh?”

There was something to what she was saying, but he didn’t get it. “I can only speak for myself, but you have a beautiful rack.” “How is it someone can look at you and it be so disgusting? Then, someone else looks at you in the same way, because of the same thing, and it’s arousing?” She looked puzzled, but she wasn’t really looking at him. Emmy was a little spacey and damned if he knew why. “It’s probably just the feeling you get from the person and the chemistry involved.” He tried to give her the best answer he could to such a general question.

“Are you feeling a reaction,” she said, walking up to him and sliding her hand down his pants. This lesson wasn’t going to go anywhere if he didn’t get it together, and they only had ninety minutes before this place was again filled with people. “You know just how to make my cock hard, Emmy. Were you doubting your skills?” He watched her face closely to see if he could get a read on what was going through her mind, but it wasn’t working at all. She looked down and away from him with only a shrug.

“Come on.” He got in the pool, and he put his hand out to her, but she jumped in by herself and then walked over to him. Matt couldn’t help but snicker a bit. “What’s so funny?” she questioned with her hands on her hips. This girl needed to fight or fuck, and he’d take the latter, but he was going to make it fun for her. “You are. Strutting around with your tits swinging, knowing how distracting it is to me, but I am a Lieutenant Commander of the U.S. Navy, and I am going to control myself until we get a few things accomplished.”

“Like what,” she said, as she jumped up and wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. “I found out a lot about myself yesterday.” “Oh, really? Like what?” He held her and looked at the clock. It was debatable that she was going to let him do what needed to be done before she got rid of this excess energy. Matt still wanted to know what it was all about, but he knew people, and he could tell that she wasn’t going to give up and tell him whatever had upset her. “I like rough sex and dirty talk. My plan was to work on it and use it the next time I fuck someone.” She was talking like

she just told him she wanted to bake cakes for the people of the world, and she was looking at him like she wanted to know his thoughts. Really? That probably wouldn’t have gone over like a lead balloon if he couldn’t see her riding some joker for all he was worth —while murmuring naughty words out of the mouth he just pulled his thumb out of. “Let’s hear what you’ve got.” He was just walking her around the pool, semifloating so she could get the experience of swimming—in case they didn’t get to it today. She cleared her throat, and he tried not

to be distracted by her hard nipples that were rubbing up against his chest. “I want you to take out your thick, hard cock that I can feel rubbing on my ass and fuck me like you did yesterday, and I want you to bite me right when I’m getting ready to come. I want you to bite me hard, Matt. I can take it. My pussy is so wet just thinking about it now. Will you bite me…? Ooooh.” She lifted up and inserted one of her pool flavored nipples into his mouth. “Emmy?” He was almost shocked at what that little bit of speech had done to him. “Please, Matt.” She looked and acted

like she wanted to be ridden hard, and honestly, he thought he’d be better than yesterday since he wasn’t so raw, but somehow she made him hungry for her. She unwrapped her legs from his waist and took off the bottoms of her bikini before she rewrapped herself around him fully naked. Can I give her what she wants? Abso-fuckin-lutely. “There isn’t a lot of time right now. You just want to come hard, and I’ll give you more later?” He shouldn’t have been surprised by the compromise in his voice. He wasn’t much for it. It wasn’t that he couldn’t, it was just he was never with anyone long enough or cared hard enough to think about it.

She nodded, and before he knew it, she reached down behind her and freed his cock from his trunks. It would have been funny if she hadn’t sunk right down on it without giving him a second to think about it. Emmy was the motor on this train because she was doing all the heavy lifting. Up and down, she tried to slam on his cock, but because of the water, she wasn’t getting exactly what she wanted. He walked over to the steps, so they could be in the water but out enough to give her what she sought. He laid back and brought his hands to her ass like he’d done before, but this time he didn’t get the pleasure of

watching what his taps did for her color. He kneaded, as he lifted her up, and squeezed, as he dropped her down. The echoes in the big pool were getting louder, and he hoped the manager had kept the people away from the door, or they were about to get a lesson in what sex sounds like. “More, Matt, harder, deeper.” She crooned, and he swore it made his cock harder, listening to her dirty words coming out of that sweet mouth. As hard as he was and as fucking sexy as this whole situation was, her saying that made something crack in his heart. He’d created a monster—a sweet-hearted,

sexy monster. He brought her leg up and over to the other side, so she could spin on his cock, and he lifted her ass and moved with her, so they were both standing. “You’re going to get what you’ve been begging for….” He almost came right then, as she bent over further like she was trying to give him more than she already was. He started a rhythm that was powerful and fast, but he picked up more speed as she got louder and louder. Bringing her back toward him, he covered her mouth with one hand and worked her clit with the other. They came together in a way

that was almost better than the first time. She was spent when they were finished, and he carried her to the chairs where they started all this. “You brought me in here to teach me to swim. Didn’t you?” she asked him, as she dried off. “Yes, ma’am.” He was drying off and thinking about how much fun he had with her. “We can try it out again tomorrow. Maybe we should keep an audience because then we will be forced to keep it clean.” “I don’t know about that. You tend to go all crazy when I’m around. How will

you ever settle yourself down?” She was playful and sassy, which was the total opposite of what she was before they started. He helped her with her bathing suit— even though she fussed at him that she could do it herself, and by the time the manager knocked on the door at the appointed time, they were presentable. “So what now?” he asked her, and she looked like a deer in the headlights. “I figure we met as soon as we exited the plane, we are just a few doors down from each other, and you keep running into me, so maybe we should just keep each other company. If that’s alright with

you.” “Yes… sure… great. That’s great.” Her smile was as big as the sun, and he was honored that she wanted to spend time with him, too. “What did you have planned for the rest of the day?” “There is a hike up a mountain and then dinner. After that I’ve got a she-cat that I’ve got to tame. I promised her that if she took just a little bite of me now, I’d rock her world later.” Emmy had a smile on her face, but he could tell that she wasn’t sure if he was talking about her or not. “You’re talking about me, aren’t you?”

“I don’t know. Are you a wild cat?” “If I can sit on your cock and ride you like a horse, then a wild cat I’ll be.” She got up and walked to the entrance of the pool, leaving him looking after her. “You’re getting pretty good at that,” he said, as he caught up to her. “Thanks.” The smile she gave him was much better than the disgust he’d seen earlier, and he chose to forget about the person who made her mad. Chances are, the individual would resurface again, and he’d be ready with a six-pack of whoop ass just for him. That would have

to be enough for now, as Emmy had a contented look on her face, and they would keep each other company for the next few days.

CHAPTER FIVE Emmy was shocked and surprised at herself. Not only did she ask for what she wanted, but she’d gotten it. It was a rough morning with that jerk, but she was freshly fucked and ready for part two of her day. She giggled at herself because, just yesterday, she wouldn’t have thought to use such coarse language. Emmy had said a few bad words sprinkled here and there, just to enhance or emphasize what she was talking about, but not as a casual add on and never to increase her arousal. Who even knew that could happen? Although she was strongly suspecting that it was the person who used the words that got

her so hot. The knock on the door made her look at her phone. Damn, giggle. She was doing so much thinking while she was getting ready she was almost late. She opened the door and a fresh looking Matt walked in the door. He had boots and shorts for her. “What’s wrong with my outfit?” she asked, looking down at what she had on. “Nothing, but I wanted to make sure you had the right boots because it is a steep climb. We aren’t going fast, as it’s more of an exploration than what I’m used to,

but I want to make sure you’re good.” She liked how he looked after her, but she was here to be more independent. Is it just the way I look that makes people want to take care of me? She wasn’t sure, and she usually didn’t like it at all, but with him, it was endearing. Emmy put on the hiking boots and the shorts without putting up much of a fuss, but when she was done, he came after her with some sort of spray. “What in the world is that?” “It’s the best insect repellant in the world. Military grade.” He didn’t stop spraying when he talked, and there was a

big cloud of aerosol that she was breathing in. “Matt?” “I don’t want anything biting your nipples but me.” He bit her bottom lip, and that made her moan and want for other things, but he just gave her a quick smack on the ass as he walked to the door. “Come on, if we don’t get there on time, they’ll leave without us.” “We don’t want that.” She grabbed her small purse and room key, and they were out the door. ***

She learned a few things about Matt in the last hour and a half. First, he was a very fast walker, and he was knowledgeable about a lot of outdoorsy things. He could also read her like a book. She was trying to keep her calm the whole walk up the side of the mountain, but the man who’d accosted her earlier in the day and pissed her off so badly was in the same group as they were and kept trying to talk to Matt. Every time the man would get close to them, Emmy would take deep breaths and try not to go off on the man. She’d twisted his nuts so badly she would have thought he wouldn’t be on a nature hike

that required so much walking. Maybe he had resilient nuts, or maybe that happened so often it was like a slap on the hand. She didn’t want Matt to get involved in it since he seemed to think he was her protector and she was a helpless female lost in the storm. That mental image made her laugh a little, and Matt looked over at her. “I’m glad to see you enjoying yourself a bit. I was beginning to think you hated this.” “Why would you think that?” “You were snarling and mumbling the whole way up here when we weren’t

talking about anything. It’s either you don’t like the hike, or you don’t like Marcus over there. Come to think of it, you start with the mumbling and dirty looks when he comes by. Is he the reason you were pissed this morning, or do you know him from somewhere else?” She just looked at him like she did when someone asked her a question she wasn’t going to answer. He didn’t know her that well, so he wouldn’t recognize that expression, but he was very observant and would figure it out. “What do you do at work?” She thought to change the topic since they weren’t going to getting anywhere with the one

he chose. He looked at her, and she thought he may understand the expression she gave him more than she thought because he gave her the exact same one in return. “Unfortunately, I can’t tell you that. I’m ranked pretty high, and most of what I do is classified information.” “Like if you tell me, you’d have to kill me?” She joked with him, and although she got a bit of a smirk, he wasn’t talking. “I’d never kill you, but I’m good at keeping secrets.” Matt looked at Marcus.

“Do you have something you want to share with me?” “Why do I get the feeling that if I told you something I may not know what happened, but it would be taken care of?” She wouldn’t ever tell a soul, but it was nice to have someone who had your back. “I don’t know why you’d feel that way, but I get the same feeling that you think you handled the situation and you wouldn’t tell me anything anyway.” “Maybe we know each other better than we thought.” She never knew what people meant about standing there

making google eyes at each other, but that’s what they appeared to be doing. The guides were taking a break and letting everyone take pictures at the top of the mountain. The view was breathtaking; it was like they were at the top of the world. “Makes everything else seem kind of small when you’re up here doesn’t it?” Matt said when he pulled her hand in his. “I’m taking this grand trip because of my aunt. She passed away last year, and no one wanted to tell me because it was my last year of college and they didn’t want

me to worry. When I graduated, they couldn’t tell me all the bullshit they’d been feeding me for the last eight months. They said she was gone on vacation or she couldn’t talk, but she was my favorite aunt…she wouldn’t have missed my graduation.” She took her hand back from him. “That’s why it’s important for me to be independent—so I can prove to my family and to myself that I can make it out here.” He wrapped her up in his arms. “I can’t tell you much about my job, but I know people, and we’ve clicked since we first met. What I can guarantee is there is more to that story than what you’re telling me.” He tried to look down into

her face, but she looked away from him. There was no frigging way she was going to tell him that part of her life story. One of the reasons why she liked being with him so much was that he didn’t treat her like a fragile little flower. He grabbed her and squeezed her and fucked her like she was a woman without a disability, without a defect that had been fixed. “Maybe another time,” she said so that he could stop looking at her expectantly and she could move on with her vacation. “Hey Matt,” said the man she knew now as Marcus, but was better known to her

as the guy whose bat and balls she had in a vice grip, as he ran up to them. She wondered if that bastard took her chair and umbrella. “Yes?” Matt let Emmy go a bit and went back to holding her hand, which was unfortunate because that made her have to stay here with them. “What are we doing tonight?” The man was just abrasive, and Emmy wondered whether he even realized it. “Excuse me?” Matt looked a bit confused at the man and this conversation.

“I thought that since you are both alone and so am I, we could all find something to do this evening.” The man must have sensed the change in the atmosphere— even at these high altitudes. Matt let go of Emmy’s hand and placed her a little behind him. “I meant like the club or dinner when we get back. I’d hoped to meet someone here in paradise. That was the misunderstanding this morning. Right?” “So this is the guy who made you upset this morning?” Matt looked at Emmy, and she just shrugged. “You didn’t tell him about it, sweetheart?” Marcus said, like he’d

found a chink in her armor. “Don’t push it, Marcus. It doesn’t put you in the best light.” The man backed down, and both she and Marcus looked at Matt. “Let me talk it over with Emmy and get back to you. What room are you in?” “The room number is nine seventeen. I hope to hear from you guys; you seem like a lot of fun.” Marcus looked at them both, and she wondered if the man was mentally stable, because only a fool would try to tangle with her after the time they’d just had.

Emmy watched the man move away and wondered why she didn’t just tell Matt what was going on. It was obvious Marcus was trying to make Matt think she was loose, but little did he know she’d slept with Matt already. His cock block wasn’t going to work. Matt turned to her, but the guides picked that moment to call them all back. “It’s going to be just before dusk when we get back, so we need to get going.” She reached out her hand to him, and he took it without saying a word, but she could tell he was in his puzzle mode. “Before you ask. I don’t want to go

anywhere with that man—and I don’t want to talk about it.” “There was no way in the world he was going to go out with us, but you know I’ve been curious to find out what set you off this morning. You were pissed.” He watched her as he spoke—and must have been learning more and more about her—because he just led the way down the mountain without waiting for an answer. Emmy could see Marcus just outside her peripheral vision. She didn’t want to talk about it to Matt for a few reasons. For one, she didn’t want the hassle. Matt was a born protector and would feel like

he had to defend her honor or some stupid thing like that, and she didn’t want him to get hurt. The other reason was the man wasn’t worth the time and effort in her opinion. When you see trash, you just step over it and keep it moving, she thought. She’d admit that he was an asbold-as-brass type guy since he had the nerve to come over because he assumed, albeit correctly, that she’d not told Matt. He just didn’t know the reason why. Emmy was exhausted when she got to the bottom of the mountain but not for the reason Matt would think. She had no problem saying she was tired, but she’d just not give him the real reason why.

“Do you still want to go out to eat? I don’t mind eating in the room and maybe we can watch a movie.” “Watch a movie? We are in the land of paradise; there will be no sitting in the room and relaxing. There is a whole world of things to see here, but I may need to lay down for an hour or so.” She walked up to her room, and he opened up her door for her. There was nothing she wanted to do more than to get in the bed and sleep, but she needed a shower like the world’s dirtiest man and she wasn’t going to mess up her pretty sheets with her muck. Maybe just a few minutes of rest and she could get up, get showered, and be ready to go out on the

town like a normal person.

CHAPTER SIX Matt was being pulled into the web of Emmy. She was a paradox so full of contradictions. She was sweet and giving, but when you got to a topic she didn’t want to discuss, she reminded him of himself sealing up tighter than submarine. He knew there was more to the story than she wanted to tell. She was unusually tired today, and he’d worn her out yesterday. Not that he didn’t think he wore her ass out with one of the best fucks he’d ever had, but she’d fallen asleep like they’d run a marathon. He let her into her room, and she was so exhausted that she didn’t question him

getting her into the room and leaving with the key. Matt had taken a shower and picked out his clothes, but he decided he’d lay down with Emmy. He’d not had the desire or inclination to do that with any woman in recent years, but he wasn’t going to question it. Matt wanted to just lay in the bed and do nothing but… rest? Usually that wasn’t the case, but it was this evening. Sleep didn’t come to Matt easily, so last night when he’d been there and left afterwards, it had been half to give her a taste of the one-night stand she’d claimed she wanted. Yet, on the other hand, he hadn’t wanted to keep her up with his tossing, turning, and sometimes

shouting in his sleep. No one needed to put up with that, especially on vacation. Laying still in the darkness was something he was used to doing on missions, so doing it while holding a soft sexy female in his arms was no trial. He could tell she was awake by the change in her breathing, and her heart fluttered like a little bird in her chest. “Emmy, it’s me, Matt.” He felt her relax and after a few seconds she stretched like a large cat. Turning to the light switch, he turned it on and watched her squint in the bright light. “You took a nap with me?” she asked

like she was dazed. “Yes. I did. Just one of the many services I offer.” He kissed her, and she kissed him with the same wild abandon as she did the first time she kissed him, but then she hopped up out of bed. “I didn’t mean to go to sleep. I only wanted to close my eyes for a few seconds. Now I have to shower, and you’re probably starving.” She paced the floor like it was a crime against nature that he’d not eaten in a few hours. “It’s not that big of a deal.” He tried to console her, but she was too busy making a big deal out of it to listen to

him. “How about we take a shower together, then we can get something to eat. There are some late dinner theaters and clubs we can hit. It’s not a problem. We’re on vacation and have nothing but time.” She visually seemed to calm down, and she moved over to her bag and busied herself with something. It looked like she was taking a pill of some sort, but he knew the body mechanics of someone trying to hide something, and she definitely didn’t want him to know what she was taking. That’s peculiar, he thought. “I’m prepared to see your toned, firm,

sexy, fit body in my shower. Do I get to wash you off?” She looked excited about the prospect of running her hands over his body, and he thought about the few times they’d been intimate. They’d either been rushed, or they’d been too frantic to slow down and savor it. Not that he was that type of man, but he aimed to please, especially this woman who seemed to make him want to make exceptions for her. “Then off we go,” he said, as he led her to the bathroom. It was a bit small for the both of them, but he didn’t mind getting close to her. He’d taken off her boots, socks, shorts

and shirt when he’d gotten her more comfortable for her nap. It would have probably been easier to say what he’d left on, which was her bra and panties. He liked that she was spending most of her time just watching him take off his clothes. There hadn’t been a time that he was ashamed to take off his clothes, but the way she looked at him when he was undressed made him appreciate his body even more. She turned on the water and quickly took off the two items of clothing he’d left on her person and then waited for him to get in. The shower was surprisingly larger than what he’d expected. She must have had a different layout because his

shower wasn’t this big. “Come on over.” She motioned to him with her hands all soaped up and ready. He walked the few steps over and stood under the water to get himself all wet for her. “Is this a specialty of yours?” he asked her, as she rubbed her hands from his neck to his torso. It was very relaxing, and the small warm cocoon made for a very intimate atmosphere. “It hasn’t been, but for you, I could get used to it. All I’m missing is the grapes to feed you.” She had soaped up all the skin on his arms, back, and chest before

she moved lower. Watching the look on her face as she soaped him up was making his cock stand up higher and higher, like it was demanding attention. “We could always call room service,” he replied. “No. I think you’ll have to do without the refreshments.” She moved down to his cock with her soapy hands, and all he could do was watch her give it the cleaning of a lifetime. She went hand over hand, then swiveled from the base to the tip and then off and then stroked him hard while she fondled his balls. “Are you supposed to be cleaning me up

or jacking me off?” It wasn’t that he wasn’t enjoying himself immensely, but not being in control of the situation made him uneasy. “I was making you dirty so I could clean you all up again. Come for me—and I’ll show you.” She looked so playful and happy, he decided to let go of his ridged stance to always be in charge and let her have fun. The warm water, her soapy hands, and the slick glide she kept sneaking past his taint was going to make this one extraordinary hand job. He fucked up into her grasp, as she made her hands tighter so he could thrust through them.

She was good at moderating the tension in her hands and watching him for what felt good. “You are such a dirty fuck. Look at your thick, hard cock going faster and faster. You want to come on me don’t you?” Her words stirred him up, especially for an amateur, or maybe that was some of the rationale for what was working. He liked to talk dirty. It made him more excited while he fucked a woman, but he’d never really listened to someone do it to him. What he got in return was mostly groans and moans with a sigh or squeal thrown in for good measure, but the words coming out of Emmy’s sexy,

pink mouth were really getting to him. “Yes,” he answered, and her excitement would have been a lot funnier if he wasn’t about to pop his load all over her. “Move closer.” She did what he asked, bringing his cock that was thrusting through her fingers to her belly so each time he cleared her hands he met with soft wet skin. That in itself shouldn’t be that arousing, but the look on her face, the murmuring that he could barely hear anymore with the noise of the water crashing into the tiles and his heart beating so loud it was like on speaker and reverberating through his body, sent him over the edge and

spiraling. He came so hard his ass cheeks were cramping from trying to bust through her two-handed fist she’d made for his enjoyment. Somewhere in there he closed his eyes and leaned back on the cool tiles, because when he opened his eyes all he saw was Emmy’s pink skin and large smile. “You liked that, huh?” he said, as a large smile grew on his face. Her excitement and personality made him feel like he was young—at least he felt like he did before he joined the Navy. Being a SEAL during war time changed him. There was no doubt about that. He’d grown harder and more cynical, and being with Emmy had really put that into

perspective. It wasn’t like this was a good time to change it. With two more years left of his commitment, it wouldn’t do him any good to start getting soft on a super sexy woman with a few secrets in her box of tricks. She nodded her answer to go along with her smile, and he picked himself up off the wall to come toward her. “Now, it’s your turn,” he said, gathering up the soap she’d placed in the shower. She’d used the regular soap that came with the room for him, but the flowery smelling pink liquid in a clear plastic container was the one she wanted for herself. She offered him a pink net thing

that she wanted him to use, but he wanted to use his hands. Right as he reached for her, he found himself looking at a faint scar that went down the middle of her chest. There was just something about the way the light was or something, but he ran his finger down the marking, and Emmy held her breath. “What’s this?” He almost hated to ask because she looked mortified, but he wondered if this was some of the reason that her family was so protective of her. “Nothing.” She snatched back the net scrubby and turned her back to him.

“Hey,” he said, turning her back toward him, but she was all soaped up on her chest, and she seemed to be vigorously trying to hide what he’d seen. “It’s alright we don’t have to talk about it.” She looked like she was going to cry, and he hated that he’d broken whatever peaceful vibe they’d had going on before he touched her scar. “Most people don’t see it,” she whispered, “and I don’t like to talk about it.” He knew she was a stubborn soul because they were matched in that area.

Matt wanted to know more, but it wasn’t going to be forthcoming, and since they were not going to be together that long anyway, there was no reason to fight for information he wouldn’t be needing. He looked at her and knew that in two more days they wouldn’t see each other again. It was a big world, and he was usually on the other side of it. His next stop was Guam, and the things he was set up to complete there were things he didn’t even want to think about. For now he just wanted to enjoy the peaceful decadence that he’d found when he’d thought he was just going on different walking tours and laying on the beach. Pulling her into his arms, he kissed her,

but she shook her head, turned around, grabbed some conditioner, and smeared it on the tight hole of her ass. “I want to try something new,” she said. “Have you done this before?” This wasn’t something that should be done without some stretching and a bit of time. A smear of product and a wish wasn’t going to get his cock into such a tight spot without a bit of pain. She shook her head again. “But this is what I want.” Matt was torn. Being one of the leaders in his squad, he had to make decisions

on a dime. Some of them were popular, and other decisions weren’t. Emmy seemed to be in a battle with herself, but he didn’t want to be used as the weapon of choice. He put his thumb on the tight sphincter and pushed in just a bit only to feel her clutching and unclutching her pussy. It seemed like she liked the sensation, but he still wasn’t willing to hurt her so she could see if she liked anal penetration or not. “Are you on birth control?” he asked, because he didn’t have a condom in the bathroom but remembered that they’d had sex without protection in the pool today as well. He was a man who never forgot to wrap his Johnson, so he was

shocked at that slip. “Yes, but you don’t need to worry because that’s not where I wanted you.” She looked back at him. Her pink skin was all soapy and fragrant, and he hoped getting her off would calm her down a bit. So, he slid his hand over to her sudsy breasts, tweaking and pinching her nipples like he knew she’d enjoy, as he pushed into the tight spot she wanted him to conquer. Just knowing that she wanted him to be the first there made him hard enough to give it to her, but he didn’t think she was ready in mind or spirit right now.

When he slipped his hand down to her pussy, she was already starting to buck against it. “My fingers won’t get the pleasure this time. I want my cock buried in your pussy when you let loose.” He moved around so that he could insert his throbbing dick where he most wanted it to be, and she groaned, as he popped his thumb inside her ass. It was like a little mouth opening and closing on his thumb —and that pushed his control a bit. “Harder, Matt. Don’t try to take it easy on me now that you think something is wrong with me.”

“I’m trying to make sure you have a great experience. Would I love to slam my cock into your ass and lose myself in the snug fit of your body? Maybe, but I want you to enjoy it, too. It sounds hot, and me knocking on your back door feels good, but you need a bit more work up. I’m happy to do it for you, but it won’t be right now. Let me get you started, and we can work on getting you ready for the main event.” She hadn’t said anything, so he thought she was okay with what he said until she went forward and slammed back into him, sinking his cock and his thumb deep into her body. Fuck if that wasn’t one of the hottest things someone had done to

me, he thought. This woman pressed all his hot buttons—and he liked it. He slapped her ass once and the water on the surface made the sound like it was quite a wallop, but she froze and then shuddered. That’s my girl, he thought. “More like that,” she said—and who was he not to oblige her. Matt was trying to keep it pretty coordinated; he’d thrust once, and when she was full of his cock, he’d give her a tap and slid in with his thumb until the rhythm had her gasping and pushing back against the wall. He liked his cock slammed hard, and the music of her

moans got him close. Matt grabbed onto her hair and pulled her back toward him, so he could get her closer, but when he did, her pussy gripped him with quick contractions, and she convulsed as she reached her climax. When he saw she was on her way down, it only took a stroke or two more for him to finish himself off. The sounds of their huffing and puffing was the only thing that could be heard over the music of the water hitting the porcelain. They both washed off quickly and without a word. He couldn’t speak for her, but thinking of not seeing her again was beginning be a problem. One he

couldn’t afford. When they were dried off and she was looking for clothes to wear out, he took a gander at the in-room menu. “Would you take a look at this?” he said, looking at the overly large menu. “They have a full Hawaiian feast in here.” She didn’t even look over at him. “You are just trying to keep me in because you’ve figured out that I get tired easily, but it’s not going to work. I am getting better, and pushing myself is a great way to grow.” “Actually, I’m tired, and I want to stay in. Have a good meal; maybe kick your

ass in a game of cards.” He pulled out the cards he had with him at all times. His father was a Black Jack dealer, and cards had always been his life. From a gambler to a dealer, his father had made his peace with cards and gave his son a fresh deck every time he saw him. This time it was from a club in his home town. It was a ritual they’d settled into. His father wasn’t the “I love you” type —but then again—neither was he. She walked over and looked at the menu over his shoulder. “Do they really have a feast in there?” He pulled her down onto his lap and opened it up in front of him. “Would I lie

to you?”

CHAPTER SEVEN Emmy had no idea what she’d been doing that would earn her this kind of karma. Things were happening to her that she would have never believed were possible if she weren’t living it herself. The time she was to spend in Hawaii in her first ever trip alone wasn’t lonely at all. She was with a man whom she was so proud to be with. It wasn’t about the looks, well it was not just about the looks. Matt was a man to be reckoned with, and he didn’t have to say a word. He was polite to people and held doors, but he also rocked her sexual world and

made her feel like the sex she’d had before was all child’s play. She’d had sex with a stranger, wore a bikini, and waded in the surf, which was more than she thought she’d have been able to do. She had learned a few swimming moves and had so much fun she was trying to figure out when she could return. It was that thought… that one little thought that made her sad. It wasn’t Hawaii that was so much fun; it was being here with Matt. The man had been with her day and night, but their time was coming to an end. Since she’d done everything else on her list with Matt, she wanted to do the last

two things by herself… although they would probably be to Matt’s benefit. The stores near the hotel were quaint and colorful, but she’d been looking for a little black dress and some high-heeled shoes. It had been fun looking at all the pretty clothes, and she’d tried on and bought lots of things. She’d found her black dress and her moderately high heels, but she wanted to go into this last store. However, this last store was one she shouldn’t have entered. Marcus was waiting by the back wall, and she didn’t see him until she was close to him.

“Looks like your pretty boy left you. It was only a matter of time.” The man had so much hate in him that it was hard to look at him. “Can I help you with something, Marcus, or do you always slink about in women’s boutiques?” She continued to look through the clothing racks, but really her mind was on the door. She just wanted to leave but didn’t want him to think he scared her. She was done being afraid of anyone. “I just saw you walking along and thought I’d say hello.” His beady little eyes made her think of a snake or a weasel. She had no idea why he was so

into her. It wasn’t like she’d spent any time with him or that their last encounter was anything more than something that she should have reported to the police. “Really? Because you could have done that without all the stalking and creepiness.” She looked at him, just to see what he was doing, but she still hated the way he looked at her. “Then, I wouldn’t have had as much fun. You didn’t go out the other night when I said I’d meet you guys out. It looks like you two have been spending all of your time together. This is the first time I’ve seen you out alone.” He stood there and let that sink in, and she was just happy

that he had stopped moving around. She had been rustling through the clothes when what he’d just said hit the right nerve. “It sounds like you’ve been stalking us. Is that what you’ve been doing?” “Is that what you’re going to tell your little boyfriend?” Marcus sounded like a child, and she didn’t know what he was so worked up about. They didn’t even know each other. “First of all, he’s not my boyfriend, and second, he’s a hell of a lot bigger than you. He’s a Navy SEAL, so I’d suggest you not mess with him… or me.” This

conversation was going too far. It wasn’t even about keeping face; it was more like she was in danger. This man wasn’t stable, and to stand here and argue with someone like that was almost as crazy as he was acting right now. “I thought he wasn’t your boyfriend.” Marcus walked closer to her, and she turned to face him. “Look, I don’t owe you any explanations. You are only some guy that I put in his place for putting his eyes and then his hands in places they didn’t belong.” She was walking away from him, but in small increments, because you weren’t supposed to let the animals

know you were afraid of them. The way the store was situated, she may not be seen before he did something to her. She should have bought a knife or a small caliber gun. Here she was traveling alone, and the first stop, she found a predator and a criminal, or at least a man with criminal behaviors. “I know about women like you. I had you in my grasp, but then something shinier came about. Women like you are always trying to get an upgrade, but then so is he. It has taken longer than I thought, but he’ll let you go. I’ll be watching for a time when I need to pick up the pieces, then I’ll let you beg me for a chance.” He wasn’t moving quickly, so the anxiety

that she was feeling must have been from the vibe that was being piped in from his own brand of craziness. “What kind of drugs are you on, seriously? It must be some good stuff. I wouldn’t come to you to pick up any pieces. If Matt and I aren’t together, there still won’t be a ‘you and me.’ There are lots of women on this island and a lot of them are by themselves. Why start with me? Move on to someone else.” “Don’t tell me what to do,” he said, looking a bit wild eyed. “Fine. Do what you want but stay away

from me.” She backed away from the man because she didn’t want to give him her back. “I know you have some feelings for me.” The crazy man said, and she had to stop and find out where he’d gotten such a stupid idea. She didn’t even ask why because she knew he was dying to tell her. “You could have told him what happened and he would have been all over me. Those military types think they can bully anyone, but I don’t take shit from anyone.”

“I didn’t tell him because I knew he’d kick your ass and that would mess up my trip. I’d already done enough damage to you, and you just weren’t worth my time.” She didn’t know what those words had done to the man who now stood in the middle of the women’s lingerie portion of the store, but he looked like he was going to explode. She didn’t want to be anywhere near him when that happened.

CHAPTER EIGHT Matt couldn’t believe his eyes when Emmy had come out of the bathroom. She was all dolled up in a little black dress and matching shoes and purse. He did have a few things planned for them, as it was their last night on the island. There were times that he wanted to pack her in his suitcase and take her with him, but he knew she was out here trying to find herself and prove that she could make it on her own. To tell her he was going to miss her was bullshit because he couldn’t do anything for her. He was in the middle of a tour of duty, and this had been his only break in such a long time he didn’t even want to share it with

his family. “You look beautiful,” he said, as he walked over to her and pulled her into his arms. He liked his sex deep, hard, and fast, but with her, he’d learned that he could enjoy it a bit slower. It was even better if she was trying to go fast and he was slowing it down. “Thank you, sir. Where to?” she asked, as she stood in the middle of the floor, looking like something he would remember to stroke to on a lonely night when he was alone in the field. “Off for dancing. We never made it to the club, so I wanted to go on our last

night here.” He was sorry that he put it that way because it was like he snuffed out the light in her eyes. “I’m ready.” She was trying to act happy, but since he’d gotten to know her better in the last few days, he knew when she was trying and when it was genuine. They were both silent, as they left the room, in the cab, and when they were seated at the fancy club. They were planning to eat in the restaurant portion and then dance the night away in the dance hall portion. They sat across from each other, and Matt was mad that they didn’t have the circle booths like the first place they had a drink had. It wasn’t

like he wanted to finger her under the table like he’d done that time, but he didn’t want to just look at her…he wanted to touch her. “Where are you off to next?” She looked everywhere but at his face, and he realized how much he enjoyed her gaze on him. He decided that he wouldn’t talk unless she was looking at him. It was their last night, but he didn’t want to be sad about it. “I’m going to Guam and then to point unknown.” He reached for her hand and held it in his. “Where are you going after this?” he

asked. “Is there a way for me to contact you?” she asked, with just the faintest amount of concern covering her face. “Can I get you started with anything?” The waiter came along at just the right time because he didn’t know how to answer that question. Is there way to contact me? Of course there is. However, he didn’t want to be contacted. He knew that she’d put most of the things in her life off for this thing or that, and he didn’t want her to have to wait for him. His life was hard, and this job was tough. He got through each day knowing that if something happened to

him, he wasn’t letting anyone down. He didn’t have a girlfriend, a wife, or any children who depended on him. When his father had stepped away from the family before he got his life together, it had hurt him that his father didn’t do better for him and his mother. Until he was free to do what he chose, then he would be faithful to his job and his country. They ordered, and he kept the conversation going, talking about the fun things they’d done on the trip. It was working, and he had her laughing about learning how to swim and splashing around on the beach.

“I’m glad you saw my list. I don’t think I’d have gotten half of that done by myself.” She had eaten the last bit of cheesecake, and he was ready to shake her around on the dance floor. “It’s one of the services I provide.” She laughed like he’d said the funniest things ever. “What?” he questioned. “You always say that when I compliment you about something. Like you don’t want to accept that you’re just a nice guy and take the thank you just as it is being offered.”

“Then, you’re welcome.” He got up and moved to the back of her chair. “Are you ready to party, Ms. Roth?” “I am ready to party, Mr. Perrier.” She got up and spun in front of him and that lifted her skirt and showed a bit more of her leg. The dance area was outside near the beach, and it was a beautiful night. “Nice to see you guys here.” Marcus stepped out of the shadows, and Emmy actually squealed. “Hey, Marcus. What are you doing

lurking here in the shadows? The dance bar is over there.” Matt had been trying to be civil to this guy, but for whatever reason, he seemed to freak Emmy out— and that wasn’t cool. It didn’t matter that she wouldn’t tell him why; it only mattered that there was a reason. “I was just watching out for Emmy. When we went shopping for her dress together, I didn’t get to see that one on her, so I wanted to make sure I got a chance to see it. I like the way you look when you twirl in in. You look lovely.” “Marcus, I’ve been trying to give you a break. I know you have the hots for Emmy, and I’ve got no problem with

that. She’s a beautiful woman, who’s smart and curvy, so I get it. I want to keep her myself, but I don’t like the way you’re going about this. Emmy isn’t interested in you, and you need to leave her alone.” Matt didn’t want to scare Emmy with the moves he made when he was protecting his country, but it didn’t look like this man was going to back down. “Emmy tell him we went shopping together.” Marcus looked around Matt to see Emmy, and that made Matt almost snap. “You were waiting for me in the last store like an ambush, but we didn’t go

shopping together. You just wanted me to know that when Matt moved on, you’d be there so you could pick up the pieces. That’s the conversation I remember.” Emmy was speaking her mind, and Matt hoped that she could see the strength she had. It was clear to anyone who happened to be hearing this. “Well…,” Marcus began. “I don’t want a play by play or any excuses, just keep your mind and your eyes off of Emmy.” The noise Matt heard in the semidarkness was familiar to him, and he wondered why the man would bring a

knife to a fight. It was probably planned, and it was unfortunate, but Emmy was going to have to witness this drama. “Emmy, go wait for me over by the dance floor,” he directed her to the furthest place that he could still see her. “No, I’m not. This bastard could be luring you with something. I’ll stay right here.” He really didn’t think she was going to go away, but it was worth the try. “Now for you, Marcus, I’ll tell you that I’m willing to let you go if you agree to put your knife away and leave us alone.”

“I got the big SEAL at my mercy because of some bitch, huh? Well, I’ve been watching you assholes since you got here and I want to have some fun with her now. She didn’t tell you she was trying to jack me off on the beach in front of everyone. I almost had her tits in my mouth before I came to my senses. They were the color of bubble gum. I’m right aren’t I?” What the fuck had happened out on the beach that day? I knew she was pissed off, but the way this guy is talking, he damn near raped her. “Give her to me and I’ll let you go.”

Marcus walked closer to them, and he could feel Emmy trembling. Matt just needed the guy to get a little closer, but he was afraid that he’d hurt Emmy. He moved so he could turn her and push her to the side a bit. “He’s lying. I didn’t do any of those things.” She tried to grab onto Matt, and he was trying to make sure Marcus didn’t touch Emmy. This was a cluster fuck waiting to happen. “You didn’t grab and stroke my cock on the beach?” Marcus sounded agitated, and he lunged at Emmy. Matt grabbed Marcus’s hand with the

knife in it and swung him around using the man’s own speed against him. The man was down on the ground and subdued before he knew what hit him. “Emmy tell the management they need to get security or the police because we have been assaulted on their property.” Emmy ran off and left the two men together. Matt was having a hard time keeping this professional. “I know that you have some mental difficulties, but you need to keep Emmy’s name and the filthy things you’re saying about her out of your mouth. I won’t be able to vouch for your safety if

I hear another word about my woman.” Marcus was breathing hard on the ground, and Matt knew that the man’s pride was probably bruised, but he was going to be physically bruised if he didn’t shut up. “I was trying to warn you, Matt. Your woman is loose. She’s probably been sucking strange men’s dicks while you slept.” Matt gave the man a quick jab in the kidney and another in the ribs. “Sir, don’t make me tell you to be quiet again. The authorities will be here shortly, and you can tell your tale of woe to them.”

Emmy came running back with several people. The men took Marcus somewhere to wait for the police while they took a statement from both Matt and Emmy. “Do you still want to go dancing?” Emmy said, looking sad. “Sure.” He didn’t really, but this is what they said they’d do, and he thought she’d want to twirl around with her beautiful dress on. Marcus had ruined their night… at least this part of it, for him anyway. This was their last night, and he just wanted to spend time with Emmy and give her something that she’d

wanted from him previously. “I really don’t. Would you mind if we went back to the hotel?” She looked down, and since he didn’t want to dance either, he agreed. In the cab, on the way back, he had so many things he wanted to say. Why didn’t you tell me you’d been assaulted when it happened? The fact that she had been gritting her teeth because that man had introduced himself to Matt on the hike and he’d talked to him a few minutes wasn’t lost on him, but he wanted to know why. They pulled up at the hotel, and Emmy

practically took off. He paid the cab, and when he got to the lobby, she was gone. He took his time getting up to the room, stopping to get a few sodas and then changing his clothes. That should have given her enough time to calm down and be ready for him. He should have kept his key to her room, but he didn’t want to forget to give it back to her and cause her to have to pay for the extra one. He was leaving before her, early in the morning, so their last time together would be tonight. Knocking felt weird, but so did waiting at the door when he could hear her moving around in her room.

“I can hear you in there, Emmy. Open up.” She stopped moving, but she stood in front of the door… he could feel it. When the door opened, he wasn’t prepared for her tear-streaked face. “What’s going on? You wanted to come home, so I brought you back and then you run from me?” He walked in and set the beverages on the table before he laid on the bed like he typically did when he came in the door. “I saw your face when Marcus said I was jacking him off on the beach,” she

said in a voice so low he was glad the air conditioner wasn’t on because he would have missed it. “What about it?” Matt wanted to go back and tear Marcus’s balls off, but that would have brought bad press to his government position. Matt was proud that he was no longer a hot head like he used to be, but there were times when it would have been easier if he was. “You were disgusted with me. I did have his dick in my hand, and he was trying to suck on my nipples, but it isn’t like you think…” Emmy stammered on, as fresh tears ran down her face.

“Stop,” Matt said in a voice he didn’t have the ability to modulate. “Stop,” he said again in a softer tone. “Come over here and sit down.” She walked over and flopped on the bed, but she was too far away for him to touch her. “When I heard what he was saying, I was disgusted. With him… not you. That day I left you on the beach halfway riled up so you’d forget whatever crazy thoughts were in your head and just wear your bikini like you wanted to do. The next time I saw you, I wondered who pissed you off. To know that I have talked and associated with a man who

assaulted you makes me sick to my stomach.” She looked over at him, like she was trying to figure out if he was being honest. Emmy must have thought so because she slid about seven inches his way. “I didn’t want to go dancing tonight because it seemed like Marcus had ruined that part of the night. We don’t have much time left together, and I wanted to spend it with you.” He watched her face and there were so many expressions crossing it that he didn’t know how to decipher them all.

She slid another few inches until she was in front of him. “Open up,” she said, as she slid under his arm leaving him on his side above her. He kissed her slowly, and she pulled him down with her hand on the back of his neck. She’d changed her clothes and only had on his Navy shirt and some shorts which it didn’t take him long to get rid of. They kissed like the long lost lovers that they were going to be. It was like they were both trying to make memories that would last them forever. He’d plucked and pinched her body, and her flushed skin told the story of how aroused she

was, as did her staccato-type. “I think you’re ready,” he said, and she was up on all fours like she knew the drill, but she couldn’t have because this was the first time they were ever going to do this. Her virgin ass would have his stamp on it, and it was bitter sweet. He’d been putting this off because he knew it would mean something to her, just like it meant something to him. He moved behind her and got her lubed up and ready along with his condomcovered cock. “Are you ready, baby?” The husky sound filled the room, and he was more than

ready to start. “Yes,” she answered quickly, like he was going to change his mind. Not a fucking chance. She was still tight, but not like it had been when he introduced his thumb. Plus, she was always such an eager fuck. It was hard to hold back with her, but that was a challenge he loved to attempt. She pushed her ass back into him when he was almost balls deep, and the grunt that came from his throat couldn’t be stopped. “This is going to be it, Matt. Don’t hold

back. Give me something to remember. When the next guy is in my ass, I want to be thinking Matt was better.” He laughed because only Emmy would use another man as motivation for him to get his ass in gear. “You’re not supposed to talk about other people when we’re in bed together.” “I thought that was only for exs. I’m talking about someone I haven’t met yet.” She was talking while she moved, and it was something that turned him on, as well as made him a bit melancholy. “If you want your sexy ass rammed with

cock, then you are about to be very happy. Rub your clit for me because I have a feast for my eyes, and I don’t want to miss a single thing.” He started a slow deep stride that she seemed to like very much, and with the first slap of her ass, she worked her hips back faster and faster. “More. Matt, please.” “How can I deny a request for more of my cock?” Her hand was moving on her sex button fast and frantically, and he wanted to make sure she got her fulfillment before he got his. The slaps got louder and

harder so that he could see his handprint on her ass. “Ohhh,” he groaned. The sensation of his cock being squeezed, her pink ass with his handprint on it, and the knowledge that this was the last time any of this was going to happen made his orgasm feel like it was straight from heaven. He pounded into her ass while he squeezed her tits in his hands, pulling her nipples far from her body. The noise she made didn’t even sound human. With his sweat cooling on his chest and the last of her quivering completed, he looked over at Emmy and saw the huge smile on her face.

“That’s how it’s fucking done, Matt.” She gave him a kiss and smiled at him like he lit the moon and all the stars. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.” She slept like she was starting to live in wild abandon and he envied her freedom to do so. She was going to be going from place to place, trying to find herself and having a blast while doing it. There was no way he was going to be able to sleep tonight, but he’d lay there for a good while until he had to go. The morning came quickly, and Emmy

was still asleep. Matt was torn between leaving without saying anything or waking her up to tell her that he’d enjoyed meeting her. He decided that he’d leave a note. It wouldn’t be as personal as saying it out of his own mouth, but it was better than a text message or getting her all worked up so that she’d not be able to sleep. It took a few minutes and several pieces of paper to say what it was he wanted to say in the way he wanted to say it, but it was done. He went to the door and looked back at the bed. Her dark chestnut hair spread

out on the pillows drew him like his very favorite attraction at the amusement park, but he had to go. It was for the both of them he was doing this, and he had to keep his mind on that. Matt stared at the bed like she was going to wake up and he asked himself, Is that was what I want? Is that what would be best for the both of us? When he answered no, he decided he was going to have to treat this like a Band-Aid and rip it off quickly. One last look and he turned and closed the door behind him. “Aloha,” he said to the closed door and

then moved as fast as he could before he could change his mind and ask her for something ridiculous.

CHAPTER NINE Emmy had the time of her life in Hawaii like she always knew she would, but as high as she’d been this week, she was now at the opposite end of the scale on the low side. As soon as she woke up, she knew he was gone. Not just because his stuff wasn’t scattered around, but her room also felt empty. She had a few hours before she had to get on the shuttle to the airport, and she didn’t know what she’d do with that time. It felt like there were tears that needed to be shed, but if she started, she didn’t feel

like she’d ever stop. She’d be in the Philippians tonight, so she would wait until then. She spotted the letter on the table and looked at the sexy scrawl. She knew that it would be the thing to start off the good strong cry if she read it, but she couldn’t help it. She wanted to know what he’d said. Dear Emmy, It must have been fate that brought you, me, a cold coffee drink, and your list together the first day we met at the airport. I had lots of plans of what I wanted to do while I was here, but being with you was more fun than I ever imagined.

You’ve asked me several times how you can contact me, but with the way you live your life and the size of your heart I would be afraid you’d wait for me or something like that. You have waited for a lot of things in your life, but it is time for you to fly. I’ll be out of the military in a few years, and who knows, the way that fate likes to throw us together I don’t doubt that we’ll meet again. You’ve talked often about your aunt and what you think she’d want you to do, and I want you to know that I think she’s very proud of you. It takes a lot of courage to do what you’re doing with

no one with you and no one wanting you to do it. Focus on yourself and the things you want to get accomplished. So I won’t say goodbye to you as we don’t quite seem finished, but I’ll say that I hope you enjoy your travels, have fun, get into some trouble, and know that you’ve given a war weary soldier a bit more to fight for. Always remember the trip to Hawaii. Take care, Matt Emmy stood up from the table and turned from the paper. It was one she would

keep forever if she could. Too bad it had a few tear drops on it. She wanted to dissect the letter word by word, as she tried to figure out what it meant, but she knew that he really wouldn’t want that. Plus, he was with the government, and they could find anyone—so maybe he was trying to say that. When she saw herself in the mirror and noted the gray Navy shirt she was wearing, she fell on the bed in tears. It didn’t matter that she would look like a clown with her puffy eyes, or that she may make herself throw up because she was crying so hard. She wanted Matt back, and she wanted him back now.

Emmy cried and cried and cried some more—until she realized she was going to be late to the plane if she didn’t get up and get ready. It was agony. Each and every thing she touched or looked at or tried to put away reminded her of Matt. She decided that she was going to have to get over it, and at least for now, get her shit in gear. With everything packed in a way that she knew it wouldn’t be all wrinkled when she landed, she went to check out and pay her bill. The beautiful and happy woman at the desk made Emmy sick to look at, but it wasn’t her fault she was love sick.

“Miss Roth, we heard there was an altercation over at the restaurant last night and the management is very sorry for any inconvenience. They have paid your hotel bill and hope that last night didn’t sour your taste for Hawaii. We hope you come back to visit us another time. “Thank you very much.” Emmy couldn’t remember a time when people were so thoughtful, and the smile she had on her face was her first real one since she woke up alone. “You are so very welcome. Is there anything else I can do for you while

you’re here?” “Do you have a salve for a broken heart?” Emmy didn’t even know why she said that. Maybe she was hoping the overly happy woman had a solution or some of the happy pills she must have been taking herself. “I’m sorry, I don’t. If it’s about the big strong Mr. Perrier, I can say he looked just as smitten as you when you two walked around the resort. We all saw that.” Emmy was shocked. Not by the woman’s words but because while she was with Matt she must have been in la la land.

She would have sworn that this was the first time she’d ever seen this particular woman in the lobby or anywhere else. Love must be blind. Love? She wasn’t in love. She’d just met the man four days ago and now he was gone on his secret mission that he couldn’t tell anyone about. Maybe it was good that it ended when it did because if she was this wrapped up in him in such a short time what would happen if she were with him longer. Is it my dependent personality? She said she wanted to be independent, but here she was emotionally attaching to someone else

with little or no effort. This was just the first stop on my tour to find myself—so maybe I shouldn’t be so hard on myself, she thought. She thanked the lady again and was happy that she was in time for the shuttle to the airport. It didn’t look like they ran all the time, so she was excited to see one coming past her. During the ride to the airport, she tried to talk herself out of being sad. She thought of all the reasons Matt was bad for her and that she didn’t need that kind of thing in her life, but by the time she got to where she was supposed to go

with her boarding pass in hand and her bags checked, she decided that there was nothing worse than a liar—except for a liar who wasn’t even honest with herself. She went into the plane when her row was called, and she settled into her isle row seat. The plane had all the seats packed and that didn’t make for a great ride but the trip wasn’t overly far so she could take it. She could take anything. When all the seat were full and all the bags were put in the overhead compartments, the ding of the stewardess microphone went on. Emmy had seen things on the internet where the

instructions came from a sassy or funny person, and she wanted to laugh or be entertained in some way so that she’d not cry. It was bad enough they were going over all this water in a plane. If she could just start this ride out with something that may be able to keep he occupied for the rest of the trip. “Hello passengers. Welcome to flight number six eight seven four five, leaving Honolulu, Hawaii in route to Guam before heading out to the Philippians. This is a non-smoking flight—and anyone needing to smoke while the plane is in motion will be able to use the outer part of the wing. That was a joke people; nobody gets to smoke. While I have your

attention, I’d like to tell you that we have a celebrity on the plane.” Emmy could only see a portion of the woman who was talking, but she gave the lady points for keeping her attention, and she’d even tried for one joke. It may have been lame, but she tried. She stretched to see the celebrity but still couldn’t see anything. “Ladies and gentlemen, we have the one and only Lieutenant Commander Matt Perrier, a SEAL with the United States of America’s Navy, and ladies, I don’t see a ring on his finger.” She put down her talking device and motioned for him to get up, and Emmy was struck dumb.

The man she had thought had gone hours ago was still on the plane. She thought maybe this was the fate that he was talking about, and she stood up and waved to Matt. The stewardess picked up the talking device. “It looks like we have a taker for the SEAL, but I was really just kidding. I’m taking him home for myself, but I’m sure there are others on the plane who’d like to meet a woman just like you.” The laughing woman thought this was a joke, and it felt like one, too. However, she just knew if she could catch his eye, it would all be okay.

He stood up quickly and waved to everyone, but when his gaze landed on her, it sparked with recognition, but he continued to scan the crowd before sitting down in his seat. She knew he knew who she was, and he knew what they’d been through together. What she didn’t know—was what the hell was going on. “Enjoy your flight.” The stewardess said with one final click on her microphone. This flight was going to be memorable, but she wasn’t sure about enjoyable. The SEAL on the plane was going to have to answer some questions because Emmy needed some answers.

“Indeed, I will,” Emmy said to absolutely no one in particular.

CHAPTER TEN Matt Perrier, Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy SEAL division, thought he was losing his mind. He’d needed a break from the high risk, classified missions he’d been going on and thought that a fun-filled break to Hawaii would be the thing to clear away the cobwebs and rejuvenate his spirit. However, he’d met Emmy Roth—and that one woman with her list of things to do had knocked him for a loop. Here he sat in the special seat the female flight attendant had given him in the deep recesses of the aircraft, and he could only think of the woman he’d left

sleeping in the hotel room back in Honolulu, Hawaii. Emmy—deep brown hair, brownish eyes, and curves to hang onto while he pumped his cock deep into her pussy. “Is there anything else I can get you, Lieutenant Commander Perrier?” The flight attendant was a blonde woman who had offered him everything from beer and nuts to a pillow and blanket, but they both knew she wanted to ride his cock before the plane landed. It wasn’t going to happen. She was getting on his nerves with her constant fussing over him, but she was also distracting him from the woman he’d swore he wasn’t going to miss when he left.

When he boarded the plane and got the special greeting from Carolyn, the overly eager flight attendant, he could have sworn he saw Emmy. The woman reminded him of long sweaty nights and days filled with her naughty smile and swaying hips. He’d also thought he saw her in the airport, but he knew that the plane she was supposed to be on left hours ago, and since his plane had an issue with the seating, his flight was changed and they offered to let him come on a different night flight. He’d walked around the airport hoping to see Emmy, but he hadn’t, and by the time he’d given in and called her hotel room, she was gone.

There were reasons that he didn’t get Emmy’s cell phone number, just like there were reasons he tried to keep the whole sexy, short-term affair light. He’d been told of his upcoming assignment, and it was going to be a difficult one that was going to take a few months up to a year to complete. He wasn’t into having people wait around for him, which is why he never got serious about anyone. Emmy was trying to find herself and was coming out of her shell. She was a hell of a firecracker, and she needed a chance to be herself. There were some secrets that she didn’t want to let out about herself, and he knew it had to do with the pill she’d taken every day at

noon and the almost faded incision line that graced the center of her chest. So he’d kept the questions to a minimum and tried to concentrate on the now. He hoped that he could leave Emmy in the sweet visit of Hawaii and take away a great group of memories to think of when he was sleeping in less than ideal conditions, awaiting the chance to do unsavory things. Not that the shit had worked. According to how his mind kept placing her everywhere, his Emmy was going to be a semi-permanent fixture for a while. He’d seen her everywhere. In the giggle in the young woman who sat near him in the restaurant, in the back view of the

woman standing in front of him in the checkout line, and in the woman who’d stood up in the back of the plane, he’d seen the woman he’d spent the last several days with. He wanted to get off this aircraft and make some changes, like at least finding out Emmy’s phone number. Carolyn had once again come back to his seat after she had announced him to the rest of the passengers, as if he was going to be servicing women throughout the flight. There was an empty seat next to him, and he thought for sure there would be someone sitting there, but it had remained empty and they were up in the air.

“Did you need anything?” Carolyn leaned down to him, like he was hard of hearing, but he noticed she’d unbuttoned a few buttons and fluffed up her breasts because they were now on full display. If she were any more blatant, she’d have offered up her nipple for him to suck at his leisure. He shouldn’t complain because when things like this had happened to him before he was flattered if not tempted. Women had always liked him, and usually, he would have been more accommodating to the woman who definitely wanted to have some up in the air fun, but he couldn’t get himself to even act interested in her.

“No, Carolyn. I’m good really.” He could see that his words saddened her. What did she want him to say, ‘Well if you’re done getting drinks and snacks I’d like to ding the back of your throat with my cock?’ He chuckled to himself… that is probably exactly what she wanted him to say. He was feeling a bit hungry—and maybe if she had long, dark hair, eyes like bourbon, and full tits that could barely be contained in a bikini top, he’d think about it. But he couldn’t do it… not now…because he only wanted the original—not a knockoff. “If you need anything. Any…thing. Please let me know.” She stayed bent over him so long he wondered if she

was going to say anything else, but he closed his eyes, hoping that she’d get the hint. Sometimes he hated traveling in uniform because it could be distracting and it seemed to bring out the horny in some women. Usually that was great, but right now was just not the time for that. He could feel her move away, taking the smell of lemongrass and roses away from his nose. Matt was thinking about the smell of Emmy and the softness of her grapefruit-scented skin. He was thanking his lucky stars that he didn’t have to do more to get her to leave because, with his eyes closed, thinking about Emmy was making his cock stiffen. If Carolyn would have been

around, she would have thought that her best assets had worked on him. This flight was over eight hours, and he didn’t want to have to deal with a rejected female who was in charge of his snacks for that long. When someone practically fell into the seat next to him and brought the fresh scent of grapefruit, he thought that his mind may have taken a turn for the worse. His cock sprung up so hard and fast he felt a bit dizzy. What the fuck? Now he was going to have to shield himself from citrus for the rest of his life because the aroma made him spring wood. The guys would never let him live that one down. He opened his eyes

to see the woman he noticed when he got on the plane—but he had looked away quickly so he wouldn’t stare at her. This exact replica of Emmy was sitting in the empty seat, and he opened his mouth to say something. “Ma’am, you have to return to your seat. I was just joking when I was offering him up.” Carolyn looked like she’d run over to where they were, and Matt took a look at the woman who had caused the flight attendant to sound flustered and possessive. “Emmy?” Matt asked, knowing he sounded like he was seeing a ghost. The masterful commander was missing, and

in his place was the guy he used to be. The one before he tried to keep his emotions sealed up and away from his regular life. The Emmy-clone looked like she didn’t know who to address first for her crimes. Blinking at him once, she turned to the attendant, seeming to figure out the woman needed to be dealt with first. “I need to talk to him for a brief second. There isn’t anyone in this seat, so I assumed I’d be able to sit here—if you don’t mind.” “You are supposed to sit in the seat you are assigned. Lieutenant Commander Perrier doesn’t need to be bothered

while on the plane and shouldn’t have to be held hostage by another passenger who wants to chat.” Carolyn was huffy, and the other passengers were looking over to see what was going on. “It’s alright. She can stay here,” he said, putting his hand on Emmy’s arm. Carolyn looked like she was trying to come up with something that would say that a passenger couldn’t be out of her seat, but she decided against it and took her red face and deep angry breathing somewhere else. It took a few minutes for Emmy to look at him, but he waited quietly until she

found her words. Not touching her was killing him, but he was nothing if not patient. “Why did you act like you didn’t see me when you got on the plane? I know you didn’t want anything to last past the island, but I didn’t know you could just turn what I thought was going on between us off like that.” She looked at him, and he wondered how he was holding himself together for this long. He’d seen her in several different moods —happy, sad, aroused, flirty, frustrated, scared, nervous, enraged, and satiated— but disappointed was one he’d not seen, especially directed at him.

“I actually didn’t know it was you. When I am in work mode, I can turn all the other stuff off. Actually, I thought I saw you twice in the airport and went up to the person to confirm they were you, but I was wrong. I’d given up on the chance of finding you in the airport when I thought your plane had already left. When I saw yet another woman who I thought was you in the back of the plane, I thought my mind was just conjuring you up again, and I didn’t want to gawk. I’ve made myself look crazy enough over you today.” He looked over at her and could tell by the grin on her face that she liked his explanation. “Did you make a friend of the flight

attendant? She seems pretty possessive for someone who should have just met you a few minutes before we took off.” She looked at him like he was hiding something, or it was something that she really wanted to know. Was Emmy jealous? It was ridiculous for that information to make him smile inside, but it did. He may not tell the world what he felt deep down, but he was honest with himself. “I’m not sure what I did to earn her admiration.” He reached behind her head and pulled her over to him and tasted her lips. It was something that he didn’t think he’d be able to do for a good long while, if ever, but here she

was, and he wasn’t going to take the eight hour flight for granted. She tasted like he remembered, and he wanted her like he’d not fucked up into her body non-stop for the last few days. She was like a drug, and he was definitely addicted. She sighed and opened her lips, as she accepted his kiss and gave a bit of herself back to him. Thank god this was a night flight and they’d dimmed the lights. There were only a few people who had the little spotlights on, and the area where they were was out of the general range of seats. Emmy slid her hand over the hard bulge in his pants, and he held her hand there while he

slowly rubbed himself into her palm. “Your seatbelts need to be on. You probably didn’t hear me, but the captain said there was going to be a bit of turbulence for a little bit,” Carolyn said, interrupting their kiss. Matt could tell Carolyn was happy about it when she saw Emmy jerk away from him. He and Emmy both looked at the woman in the semi-darkness, and Matt figured he would need to say something or this woman would just stand there waiting. “I’m sorry we didn’t hear the captain’s request.” He leaned over Emmy and fastened her seatbelt before he did the same for himself. He couldn’t see

Carolyn clearly, but the fact that he and Emmy both sat before her with their seatbelts fastened—yet she still didn’t leave—told him that she was going to be a pain in his ass. “Is there anything else, Carolyn?” he asked, as he picked up Emmy’s hand in his. This woman wasn’t going to come between the last few hours he was going to have with Emmy. What they could do on a plane that would help him get her out of his system, he didn’t know, but he knew he was going to try. The flight attendant’s face looked like she was going to eat both of them up with nasty words and dirty glares. Matt

wondered what the woman was going to say next, but the fasten seatbelt light dinged, and she turned around and walked off. “You’re just Mr. Irresistible, aren’t you?” Emmy smiled at him, and he wanted to do all kinds of bad things. She didn’t get as embarrassed as she did when he’d first met her. Just thinking about how she spilled her coffee drink on him and then rubbed his dick inadvertently as she tried to clean him up made her smile again. “I don’t know. You tell me.” Matt looked around and wondered why the attendant would have put him so far in the back

when it was so private back there. She either meant to do it so he wouldn’t be bothered by the other passengers, or so she could take advantage of the privacy herself. Emmy had her head down a little, and he knew that she’d come over here for something more than just a quick romp. “I got your letter, and although I knew you planned for us to have little to no contact after our trip to Hawaii, I guess I expected you to at least say goodbye.” He picked up her hand and clicked on the overhead light. “I know we didn’t really talk about the end game because

there was no good time to bring it up. I wanted to have a great night with food, dancing, and sex, but the meeting with Marcus kind of ruined it all.” Marcus was a man who had taken quite a shine to Emmy, and he’d known from the way she acted around him that she didn’t like him and something had happened. This woman was independent to her core and wouldn’t tell him what was going on with them, but Marcus kept his shit up until the he pulled a knife on them as they prepared to go dancing. The drama of that night, coupled with them having to make a police report and wait around for a while, made him want to give her the best night he could back at

the hotel. It was his plan to talk about how much fun he’d had and all that, but it just didn’t work out that way. He ended up just trying to make the last night not end up on the fucked up note it seemed like it was going to end up on. The sex was intense, and since they both knew the next day would be the day they left the island, he figured that she didn’t want to talk about it that much either. “That was my plan, but my plans don’t always work out the way I want them to. Our last night together was a cluster fuck with the whole Marcus ordeal. I wanted to make you remember something other than that jackass.” He looked over at Emmy to see what she was getting from

all of this because it was something that had run through his mind all day. Who in the hell wanted to wake up to their several-night stand leaving them a note about fate and how it was possible they could meet again? He’d not meant this soon, but he was happy for it. “So, what now. I realize that if I hadn’t come over here, we wouldn’t even be right here… right now, but I’m hoping that you’ll change your mind about a few things.” The plane lurched a bit, and Emmy turned a shade of pale that didn’t look good.

“Are you okay?” he asked when she’d stopped talking and looked like she was trying to keep her lunch down. “Yes,” she whispered, like if she spoke in a normal voice she’d fall apart. “I’m just not the greatest fan of flying.” “I thought you wanted to go all around the world and see the sights as you found yourself.” He wasn’t mocking her, but he wondered why she didn’t take other means of transportation. “Since time isn’t an issue, why don’t you take a boat?” “That seems like a logical question, but this is about me pushing my limits and

seeing how far I can go alone. I thought you were upset with me when the whole issue of Marcus came out and you’d found out all that he’d done to me, but I needed to be able to say that I took care of myself. People have been mollycoddling me my whole life. It’s important for me to make a different choice.” He understood what she was saying, and they had talked about that a little, but he wondered how that was going to play out during her travels. Not my monkey… not my circus. That is what my father would have told me in this situation. However, he couldn’t really take that stance since he was talking about Emmy.

He didn’t want to own up to the feelings he had for her because that would make it hard for him to leave her and harder for him to not know where she’s going and what she’s up to. “I can see in your face that you want to be a protector to me. I get it. I bring that out in people, but I don’t want it. I can handle myself, and I don’t need body guards to keep me safe. If you want to be the knight in shining armor, then we need to stop this now because you’re dealing with the wrong person, but if you want to fuck like we did in every flat or semivertical place we could find and suck and lick my body the way you’ve learned how…this could be a fun trip.”

‘The captain has turned off the seatbelt sign. Feel free to move about the cabin,” said Carolyn in a perky voice over the loud speaker. He wondered what kind of drinks was she partaking in, but really, as long as she stayed away from them, he was happy. Emmy took off her seatbelt and looked at him like she hadn’t eaten in months and he was a good, hot meal. “I have to go to the bathroom, and I may need some assistance. Think about it and let me know if you want to be a good helper.” She walked down the walkway, stopping to look back over her shoulder

and wink at him.

CHAPTER ELEVEN Emmy didn’t know where she got the courage to ask for what she wanted or to actually try it. Sex in the tiny bathroom of a 747 jet plane was crazy, but she’d always heard about the “Mile High Club”—and she wanted entrance. This was on her bucket list, but the chance of having sex with someone you’d like to have sex with on a plane was one thing, but actually approaching the subject would have been even harder. Emmy walked by the lit area where the flight attendants were standing and felt the chill of anger coming her way. She couldn’t really tell if it was in her mind

or a real feeling coming from them, but they did all stop talking and looked her way as she passed. Not that she really cared—because if Matt wanted to use her body and bring her pleasure, she’d walk by a lion’s den filled with the hungriest of predators. “Can I help you with anything?” the woman Matt called Carolyn said, as she broke away from the gaggle of flight attendants. “No, I was just heading to the bathroom.” Emmy didn’t stop walking, fearing the woman was going speak sternly to her. She wasn’t in the mood for this. She was in the mood to get laid

and talking to this sour puss would definitely get her out of her currently sweet mood. When she got to the bathroom, she was surprised at how small it actually was. On her trip to Hawaii, she was almost too afraid get up and use the bathroom. Who was she kidding? She had been terrified and had her seatbelt on— whether the sign said she should be fastened up or not. Meeting Matt had increased her confidence and desire for spontaneity. If she’d never met him, there was no way she’d be able to walk up to a hot man and proposition him. But that’s what spending the better part of a week in a sexy man’s bed will do for

you, she thought. The tap on the door startled her. She was so caught up in the sexy naughtiness of the situation and the logistics of how this would work that she almost forgot that Matt was going to be coming into the bathroom. She opened the door and allowed the six-foot-five-inch hunk of lean muscle into the confined area. “It’s a little tight,” she said, knowing her face was getting pink without having to look into the mirror that was behind her. “Well, what a coincidence. That’s what I say every time I slip my hard cock into your pussy.” Matt was in super-sexy

flirty mode, and Emmy didn’t think she’d be able to hold herself back. “What if someone hears us? What if someone needs to use the bathroom and we’ve occupied it? What if we get into trouble? What if—?” Matt slid his hand into her hair at the nape and pulled her head back so she would look at him. “If something were to happen, and we are found out, just leave it to me. While I have breath in my body, I’ll never let anything happen to you. So don’t worry about the little things. Your goal was to click one thing off your bucket list, and

I’m with you all the way. Now, clear your mind of what-ifs and give me your mouth.” Emmy could tell that this wasn’t the same carefree guy she’d been with. At first glance, he’d appeared tougher, harder, and less malleable than he’d been at the hotel. He’d never been a soft guy, but this guy seemed more in control and demanding. That shouldn’t turn her on, but it did. Her panties were moist just listening to him growl the information he had for her in her ear. “You’re not listening Emmy, because you’re still thinking too much. Open up, baby.”

She couldn’t do anything but obey that sensual order when she knew that she’d be getting so much pleasure from him. The first touch of his lips wasn’t on hers but a sucking kiss right under her ear. Who knew that is a hot spot? The sensation was like a direct line from that spot to her clit. The moan that left her throat couldn’t be stopped. She’d practically vowed to be celibate until she could find someone who moved her spirit like Matt, and her body was appreciative that it hadn’t been that long of a wait. “Shhhh…” Matt hushed. “You can’t make a lot of noise. That’s one of the

rules of the Mile High Club.” She nodded but didn’t know how that was going to work. He was so intoxicating. She didn’t try to make a lot of noise; it was like his soul just knew how to wrench the pleasure from her and the audio just seemed to come with it. As much as she wanted to taste his cock and have the whole experience, she knew that this was going to be an abbreviated session in terms of what she was used to. Emmy was never happier that she’d read that travel magazine that told her to dress in loose gauzy clothes when on a plane so that she could be at her most

comfortable. It was bad enough that she hated to fly, and although she didn’t think her outfit was particularly fashion forward, she felt light and breezy. Her peasant top and flowing skirt would make easy access for Matt, a benefit she didn’t even know she’d need when she threw on the outfit. “I’ve been looking at these tits sway with every move, laugh, and bump since I opened up my eyes and found you next to me.” He pulled down the stretchy elastic of her top along with her bra, leaving her breasts heaving and ready to be tasted. She knew he loved licking and sucking

on her breasts almost as much as she did. When she cupped one and moved her hand to the back of his head to lift up and bring him down at the same time, he fastened on to her like he needed the taste of her to live, and the deep, gravely moan that came from him made her wet and ready for whatever came next, but she couldn’t resist the chance to tease him. “Shhhh…!” she hushed back at him and then pulled her wet and engorged nipple from his mouth. “You’re going to need to be quiet. Can you do that?” That bit of joking was answered with a grunt, as he returned to her nipple and

nipped at her tender flesh. She could have come right there with the sexy aggression that just steamed off of his body. Lowering herself onto the thigh that was flexed so he could get closer to her, she rubbed on him to get a bit of relief. “My leg isn’t going to get what my cock thinks it deserves.” He pulled up her skirt, handful by handful, until her panties were exposed. “Take them off.” It was hard to get used to this new Matt. He looked like the old one who had brought her cold sodas without ice because he knew she liked her sodas that way, and she couldn’t count the times

she’d awaken convulsing from his morning kisses to her pussy, but he had a rawness about him that was new. It made her question which one was the real Matt. She’d have to think about that later when she wasn’t trying to ride his cock in the smallest bathroom in the world. Sliding her panties off quickly wasn’t an easy task, but it was something she was going to get done. He watched her with an expression she hadn’t seen before. It had a touch of arousal and a hint of amusement, but there was something else that she’d not seen from him before, and she didn’t know how to categorize it. She handed the panties to him, and he put them in his pocket.

“Take my cock out.” The order reverberated around the small chamber and stole her breath. How sexy is this guy? She would have loved to have him command her around for a while with this tone and attitude. “Yes, sir?” she whispered and was excited to see a small smile quirk on half of his mouth. Emmy was quick to unzip and reach in for his cock, but she didn’t want to take the time to fuss with the belt or that top button. Looking down on his hard cock exposed with all his other clothes on was almost too much. “Hurry.”

“Are you telling me what to do?” He cocked his head to the side, and she knew she must feel like one of the guys in his squad. It was in her to say no like the woman who started this voyage would have done, but she was a different person than the woman who’d stepped off the plane and ran into a man she thought was unobtainable to her. In the small space that was available to her, she hopped up on the little sink and propped her foot on the toilet, leaving herself open and available for him, but she thought she’d turn the tables a bit. She put her finger to her mouth and sucked it inside before she slid it in and out a few times like she’d have done to

his cock if she could have gotten to it. “Are you looking for trouble, young lady?” She knew he liked what she was doing because his cock bobbed like it wanted everyone to know that it was ready and in fighting shape. “Maybe. Do you have any for me?” Emmy didn’t know where this new woman she was becoming came from, but she loved her immensely. “I’ve got a lot for you.” His nostrils flared and she thought she’d see how far he’d let her go with this.

Moving her finger from her mouth to her pussy, she watched him follow the digit to its destination with his eyes widening, as if he thought she wouldn’t dare. Little did he know that she did dare. She wanted to push him like he always pushed her and see what would happen. Plunging her finger into her wet entrance had never felt good when she was alone, but when she was putting on a show, it was like she could climax just like that. His eyes greedily followed each plunge and exit. “Be careful because you’re playing with fire. That orgasm you’re chasing is mine, and if my cock isn’t the recipient of the

hard squeezes that will follow, I will have your ass in this tight-ass excuse for a bathroom.” He looked serious and intimidating. That alone made her want to see what would happen if he was all wound up and then let go. She added her other hand to her breast, as she squeezed and pulled her nipple away from her body, knowing she was on a fast track to the orgasm he was claiming as his. She let go of her breast and then slapped her tit, hard. “Fuck.” She pulled her fingers out so quickly her pussy clenched around air a few times missing the feeling of fullness, but he replaced the empty feeling with

one of extreme fullness. “You are such a bad girl… Unf… what happened to the sweet girl from the island?” “You left that timid little bitch asleep in bed.” He stopped thrusting for a minute, and she wondered what she said that made him stop. She should have kept that to herself if she knew that was going to stop what they were doing mid-thrust. She was a bit upset and bitter, but that wasn’t for them to deal with now. “Fuck me, Matt,” she said, knowing her voice was filled with need. That isn’t what she would have wanted it to sound

like. She wanted to be sophisticated and worldly, like she had done stuff like this all the time…but damn it she wasn’t… not yet at least. He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her with his eyes open. That should have been awkward, but it was unbelievably intimate. Matt fucked into her so hard the faucet dug into her butt cheek, but it felt so good she just hung on. “Someone is going to hear us,” she said, wondering how no one else was hearing all the ruckus that was going on in the bathroom. “Fuck them,” he growled, and her body

tightened up so hard she wondered if she was going to close off her pussy and make it too difficult for him to get into it. However, he didn’t seem to be bothered by any of it, as her body responded to the rough thrusts and biting kisses he was giving her. As she exploded, she could hear his growls and grunts that he seemed to be trying to hold back, but at the end, his loud finish was not controlled at all. She worked on getting her breathing back together when she realized they were going to have to go back to their seats… both of them… after being in the one occupant bathroom for longer than they should have been.

Matt pulled out of her and grabbed some tissue to wipe her off before cleaning himself and tucking himself back into his pants. Emmy tugged her breasts back into her bra and fixed her clothing, hoping he wouldn’t see how embarrassed she was. She washed her hands and dried them with a paper towel before preparing to open the door. “Hey! Don’t worry about the people on the other side of that door. You got what you came for and we had fun, right?” The gruff Matt was gone, at least for now, and the understanding, caring one was back. Right on time.

“We were really loud. It didn’t matter in the heat of the moment, but our seats are far away and I know we were heard. They are all grownups, so they would know what that noise was.” He lifted her face up to his. “I’ll go first, and you just look at the back of my shirt or my ass that you’re always looking at —even though you don’t want me to see you staring at it.” She smiled a little at that, because she thought she’d been pretty slick when she tried to sneak glances at his model of perfection form all those times before. He was preparing to open the door when someone knocked, and Emmy just stood

there with her eyes closed as she let the mortification sink in. He opened the door and Carolyn was on the other side of it. Emmy couldn’t see her, but with the amount of stammering and throat clearing, it let her know that she’d been correct and everyone had heard them. “I hate to bother you both, but the captain is requesting everyone get back to their seats. There are heavy storms in the area and the turbulence may be a bit rocky.” “Thanks, Carolyn. We’ll get back to our seats and fasten up.” Matt was so calm under pressure, and Emmy was glad that

he was talking to the woman and not her. She would have been stammering along with the flight attendant and it would have been more embarrassing for everyone. He led her out of the bathroom, and she kept her eyes on his back. The walk seemed to take twenty minutes in her mind, but in reality, it was just a seriously long sixty seconds. They were back to their seats with their belts fastened before she realized that she’d not taken a breath since they started walking. He took her hand in his and kissed the back of it. “I’m glad you started

breathing. I thought—after all that—that I was going to have to start CPR as well.” She appreciated that he was trying to make a joke, but she was mortified. “Come on, where is the sassy smartass who led me into the bathroom and almost made me come on the floor?” “I did that?” Emmy was filled with pride, and that must have shoved all the humiliation to the floor. He kissed her liked he’d never kissed her. With a softness she couldn’t ever remember being a part of what they had.

It was sweet and soft. A kiss that made her want more, and just thinking about the way he left, she knew that it wasn’t an option. She knew she could fall for him, and she’d fought against the feelings that clawed at her. When he slammed into her body, she loved the feeling and she loved the empowerment, but she was careful not to love the man. It was harder with soft kisses and considerate gestures. He finished with the soul-crushing kiss and looked into her eyes. “You most definitely did.” She wasn’t sure, but she thought her heart jumped in her chest… or it could

have been the jolting and bumping of the plane. “Where are you going for your next mission?” Emmy had never known when to stop… she should have quit when she was ahead, but the light in Matt’s face dimmed, and she found she missed the lighthearted compliments he was giving her. “It’s confidential.”

CHAPTER TWELVE This is the reason he wanted to leave her before all this came up. He hated the disappointment in her eyes. That’s what happened when you were in a position that had to keep secrets. It wasn’t like he didn’t want to tell her what he was doing and where he was going, but it was top security. She was a good woman. One he’d like to come home to… have children with… grow old for. She wasn’t on the schedule for him to meet until he was done with the risky missions and the secret assignments. This woman had a lot going on with her from her secret scar and

medication to her history of loss. The woman was on the run from herself, and she’d run right into a train wreck. “What procedure did you have that gave you that scar?” Matt knew he had no right to ask anything like that when he’d just blown off her question, but it was something that he wanted to know, and since fate had found a way to give them a few more hours together, he wanted to take advantage of them. “So you get answers, but I don’t?” “That’s a fair question, but I’m a commander of a military unit during war time. Unfortunately, the information that I

carry is confidential, and I can’t discuss it with a civilian. Not that I don’t want to, but I just cannot.” He could see that she was thinking about what he said. “If I could do it, I would, but I’ve pledged my heart and soul to this country, and that’s a commitment that means a lot to me.” She looked at him like she was trying to understand, but he couldn’t get a good read on what the end result was going to be. If the information was something she didn’t want to share that badly, he was going to have to understand it like she was trying to do for him. Clearing her throat, like there was

something caught in it, she began talking so quietly it was hard to hear her over the pressurized air and snores from the other passengers. “When I was younger, I had a prolapsed heart valve. They said it was leaking. I remember my family trying to explain it to me. I have three older brothers and one sister. They all tried to help the baby of the family through this process. My family didn’t want me to have an operation to fix the problem, but I was so tired and slept a good deal of the time because of the situation.” Matt leaned in so he could hear what she was trying to tell him because he knew she must not have told this story often.

“I had to have my heart valve replaced twice. The first time was with an animal valve and the second time was with metal. I take an anti-coagulant to make sure the blood runs smoothly and there are no clots around the implant.” She looked at him like she thought he was going to ask her to leave or run from the seat to get away from her. “Thank you for sharing that. You’ve taken your pill for the day?” “I was supposed to, but I left them in the luggage that I checked into the plane. I had one with me that I was going to take today, but I lost it somewhere. I’ll be

alright for a day, as long as I have it tomorrow.” She watched him closely, as if she didn’t know what was going to come next. He wanted to let her know that whatever defect she thought she had that would scare him away, it wasn’t going to happen. “I wish you’d have brought a few with you, just in case. Traveling is crazy. You never know where your luggage could end up.” She sat back with a sigh. He didn’t know what he’d said wrong, but he was going to find out. “What?” “I’m not a child, Matt. I know the

importance of taking my medication daily. I’ve been doing it all my life. I’m not going to just stop taking it if someone doesn’t remind me. I like life too much.” “I’m not sure where that outburst came from. I wasn’t trying to treat you like a child. I’m just stating the fact that airports sometime suck at getting the right luggage to the right person at the right time.” She closed her eyes, and for a few minutes he thought that she’d just totally tuned him out and was going to ignore him. He was going to say something else when she started talking again without opening her eyes.

“I’m sorry. My family has been babying me for as long as I could remember because I am the baby of the family and I’ve had a heart condition that makes them think I need to be babysat at all times. It’s the reason for this trip. I did want to get out and find myself. Not because I don’t know who I am, but to prove to myself, and maybe a bit for my family, that I can make it on my own.” “I get that, but you know they probably love you to pieces. This must be hard on them.” He didn’t want her to be upset with him but having a loving family wasn’t the worst thing that could happen to a person.

“I’m sure it is. I probably sound like an ungrateful whiney baby for not accepting the love that is flowing from my family, but it has to stop somewhere. Not only is it insulting, but it’s been making me doubt what I could do on my own. I’ve contacted them, and they know where I am. I’ll keep them informed. My sister has a locator on my phone and is aware of my travel schedule—if that makes you feel any better.” “What made you do this right now? I know you just graduated college, but I don’t know what it was that made you do something so large scale.”

“My favorite aunt passed away. When I was younger, before the replacement, I was supposed to keep my heart rate steady and not have a lot of stress and my family can’t let that go. Aunt Mary passed away eight months ago, and because I was still in school, my family chose not to tell me. Too much stress.” She looked at him like she really wanted him to understand and side with her and for this latest point he did. “That was a bit extreme. How did they get around to telling you? If you were so close, you probably talked every so often.” He was trying to handle this semi-delicately because it sounded like a subject she took seriously. He didn’t

want to insult her, but he did want the story. “The last year was intense, and she said she was going away on a trip to Greece so I’d have to hold off on contacting her. She sent a few letters my way, and since she’d done this to me before, I wasn’t that concerned. On my graduation day, she didn’t show up, and I knew…there was no way she would have missed that.” He didn’t know what to do for a situation like this. It seemed to him that her aunt was in on the deception as well, but to bring that up seemed harsh when his beautiful angel was trying hard to

keep it together. Picking up her hand and holding it seemed to be all that he could do at this time. “Any way this vacation was needed for all parties. When I return, I’ll be ready to find a job in accounting and start my life with all of us knowing that I’m able to do it.” She rubbed his hand as she talked, and he hoped that she was feeling good about her situation. Since she’d started this venture, she’d met a stranger, been accosted by a maniac, and done several vigorous activities, including engaging in intense and extremely physical sex. “Are you in any way limited in what

activities you can do?” he asked. The hostile side-eye he received from her made him think that he must have been acting too much like her family. “We only have a few more hours on the plane, and I can read the writing on the wall. You were going to leave me without a spoken word back in the hotel, and we are now on borrowed time. Let’s just talk and have as much fun as we can until the plane lands.” She looked sad with her speech, but there was nothing he could really say to give her encouragement because she was saying the absolute truth. “Don’t think I haven’t figured out how

hurt you were with the way I left things at the hotel. I hadn’t really thought the whole thing out, and by the time I got to the airport and got the news that my seat had been reassigned, I was having second thoughts. I called the room and remembered that I didn’t even have your phone number after you didn’t pick up.” The seats were pretty dark—except for the person a few seats away from them who had on the light—but he could see the expression on her face, and it was disheartening to know he put that look there. “I was hurt, but I understand. You’re a SEAL. I looked it up when I was waiting for the shuttle. It’s a division of the U.S.

Naval Special Warfare and Special Operations teams and is an acronym for Sea, Air, and Land force.” He could see her smile in the dimness, and it was as bright as he remembered. “Looks like you’ve been doing your homework.” “It was hard knowing I may never see you again, but even worse thinking that it didn’t matter to you if we saw each other again or not.” “The job I have now complicates my life in ways that I’d never anticipated, and with your backstory of trying to find yourself, I just didn’t think it was fair to

offer the little piece of nothing I had to offer. I’m gone for months without contact to civilians, and the chance of me getting injured or killed is high.” As much as he wanted to spare her from additional emotional injury, he was going to be as blunt as he could about where his life was at this point and why he didn’t want her in it. She nodded like she understood, but he knew she probably didn’t. “I’m trying not to think of you in the same boat with my family, but it’s difficult. I know you have a hard job but taking my cell phone number or giving me yours wouldn’t have been a lifelong commitment or even a short-term agreement. It would have

been like saying that you wouldn’t have minded hearing from me every once in a while. I thought you were going to tell me that I had wanted a one-night stand, and although ours lasted a few days and nights, you were going to give me the experience of walking away.” Emmy didn’t know how much Matt wanted to turn on the overhead light to see the expression on her face. He was trained in ways that enhanced his intuition, but it was hard in the darkness. That was one of the reasons why interrogations were done in such blinding bright light. It was shocking to the system, and the person’s emotions and expressions were clearer.

“Instead, you were thinking for me. Maybe it’s just something about me that makes people think I don’t know what I want and just want to make decisions for me.” Her voice sounded like she thought it was funny, but he knew that she didn’t really think that. It must have been a coping mechanism she was using to make light of a situation that was really bothering her. “Don’t think I didn’t hear you cataloging the things we did in Hawaii and wondering if I was stressing myself out, or if I should have been doing the things I was doing. I really am capable of taking care of myself.” “You are very perceptive. Yes, it had

crossed my mind that we’d done a lot of strenuous things in the past few days, but it also struck me that you did well with all of it, and I’m sure you would have stopped if you found something that was hard for you to complete. I don’t want to be linked with your family in terms of trusting in your ability to look after yourself, but I do want to be counted in the number of people who care about you and don’t want to see anything bad happen.” He pulled her as close as he could with the arm rest as a barrier and both of them strapped into their seats. Just as he was getting frustrated with the inability to hold her in his arms, the fasten seatbelt light went off, and they were told they could again move about

the cabin. Carolyn must have been working this side of the plane because she came through offering light snacks and drinks. If Matt couldn’t read people well, he’d say that the woman was over their bathroom antics, but her slightly stiff demeanor seemed like a woman scorned. “Would you two like any refreshments?” The overly chipper voice of their attendant screeched against his nerves and made him want to hide Emmy from her sight. “I’d like to apologize for whatever

awkwardness we may have brought to you and your staff. That wasn’t our intention.” Emmy looked so sincere when she spoke to the woman who looked like she wanted to tear her hair out; it made him want to find a flat surface and service her right then and there. “There are lots of people who want to make it into the Mile High Club, but they usually try to be more discrete about it.” “It’s hard to be quiet when you’re balls deep in the best pussy you’ve ever had, but like my friend here, I apologize as well.” Matt was happy that his words had the effect he wanted them to have,

and even though Emmy tried to squeeze his hand in a vice like grip, he didn’t feel bad about putting this woman and her obscure jabs in their place. “I don’t want anything. Thank you,” Emmy said to the still sour faced Carolyn. “Me either.” Matt didn’t want the woman to be close to them for any longer than she had to be. She walked away with her cart and didn’t look back. Good riddance. “Did you have to be so mean?” Emmy pulled her hand away from his, and he knew that Carolyn had knocked her back

into the feelings of embarrassment that had plagued her when she exited the bathroom. “That wasn’t being mean. That was telling the truth. If she’s never had a man sliding his cock against her walls and he was overwhelmed with how good she felt, that’s on her not us. We shouldn’t have been so loud, and I take responsibility for that, but she didn’t need to tell us about discretion when you were already apologizing for that very situation.” He wanted her to know how he was feeling, and he wanted her to know that he would protect her from whatever he considered to be a threat to her.

She looked over at him and covered his mouth with her own. The rough kiss was what he was used to giving her, and with the time on their clock running down, he was feeling more emotional than he had before he’d seen her on this flight. “You’re quite the surprise, Emmy,” he said, feeling a loss that he’d not felt the first time he let her go. “Why do you say that like it’s a bad thing?” She was turned toward him and had her hands around his neck. “It’s not a bad thing at all. I’m just not sure what to do with you now. I won’t

have you sitting around waiting for me on pins and needles.” “This is you deciding for me what I should and shouldn’t do. I don’t get a say in this at all?” Matt didn’t want to answer that because he didn’t want to give her a choice. Sex always muddled up the waters, and with all the sex, especially the type of sex they’d had, her waters were extramuddied. He wasn’t a stranger to women and their beds, and he couldn’t claim he was in his right mind at this time. His life had always been one eventful happening after another, but the pangs he was feeling inside were something that

was a bit new to him. Regret. That damn light to fasten their seatbelt was on again, as the flight attendant told them that they were getting ready to begin their descent into Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport. Emmy grabbed his hand and hung on tight, as the noise of the engines seemed to be a little louder and his ears seemed to pop. He pulled Emmy into his arms the best he could and tried to help her forget what was happening around her. She clung to him like gravy to hot biscuits, and although he had never wanted another woman to do so, he enjoyed it more than he thought he would

or should. The wheels touched down on the runway and jostled them both together more than even the fierce kiss they were sharing. They both knew that their time was up, and after the words that they’d shared to explain what they were doing, neither one of them could say that they were unaware of how this was going to end. He’d not changed his mind about them exchanging information because he wasn’t sure that either one of them wouldn’t try to find the other before it was time, but the slower the plane moved toward the arrival gate, the more unsure he was that he was making the correct choice.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN There was almost nothing worse than the unspoken words between he and Emmy, but there wasn’t much left to say. He walked with her to find her connecting plane, and although he knew she could find it herself, she had an hour and a half layover and he had a ride that was going to be there within the next thirty minutes. They’d had fun and learned a lot about themselves and each other, so this sadness wasn’t how he wanted to end this affair. He’d been to this airport a few times and knew a bit about the ins and outs of it. Hoping that things were the same as the

last time he’d been there, he pulled Emmy into a closed area that he knew was used for unclaimed luggage. It was big and filled with stacks of large containers. “Why are we in here?” Emmy looked around the large room, and he just took a minute to soak her in. There would be plenty of times that he’d wonder why he didn’t know each and every detail about her. The way her hair was up in a sloppy bun, but there were all these tendrils that framed her face, as they wildly escaped capture and the flushed pink cheeks that he wasn’t sure if they came from arousal, defeat, or exertion. All together it was a very impressive package.

“I recall telling you that any pussy clenching that I missed would mean a punishment for you.” “What you said in the bathroom?” Emmy’s face flushed a brighter pink, and he knew that she knew exactly what he was talking about, so he just nodded. “You don’t have anything so we can do any of that,” she said, but she stopped as he pulled out the lubrication and condom from his pocket. “Where did you get that?” “I can be resourceful when I need to be.” He nodded to a pallet that had large

boxes stacked on it. “Since all I can think about is your juicy pussy and it being exposed to the elements, I may as well “ She moved over to the boxes and moved up the stair-stepped books and went higher and higher. Soon, she reached a box that left her pussy at eye level with him. “You are really playing with fire, aren’t you?” Matt whispered, even though there was really no need. “If this is going to be the last time, I want to make it last.” She brought her ass and feet to the edge of the box

watching him like he was an animal at the zoo and she didn’t know what to expect. He didn’t know how that could be when they’d played with each other for almost a week, but it did feel different…more complicated…more meaningful. He didn’t do any preliminary touches, but he dove in and kissed her most private spot, as she bucked against his mouth. The angle in which she was laying made it difficult to get to her full tits, but he wanted one in each hand when she came in his mouth. He stepped up a bit so he could get closer to her tits and found that she

already had them out and was pulling at her nipples, as he rubbed his mouth and chin in her juices. She was growing louder, and he hoped that they’d not get caught by security. The truth was, he’d done more in this uniform than he was supposed to do and would be in a bit of trouble if he were found out having this extended public display of affection. She shoved her hand in her mouth, as she used her feet to get closer to his mouth and he took turns pinching and patting her nipples that were so hard they felt like hard rubber. He wanted to lick her all over, but he waited until she’d finished her climax and her moans turned into mewls.

“Mmmm… Emmy you taste delicious, but that isn’t what I told you would happen when we were in the plane.” He moved to bring her down so her feet touched the ground and moved her to a smaller box that she could just lean over. She shuddered, and he wondered if she was cold or aroused, knowing what was going to come next. “You’re really going to fuck my ass? Here where anyone could come in and see us?” He knew from previous visits and having friends that had worked there that

the likelihood of them being found out this early in the morning was slim to none, but she didn’t know that. “Yes. You teased me in the plane and deliberately provoked me when you knew what the consequences were. That tells me that you want it.” She didn’t say anything, and he wondered what was going on in her head. Slapping her ass with his hand, she lifted her skirt and put her knee on the box opening herself up so that he could see all the sweet deliciousness she had to offer. It was crazy how horny he was for her when he’d practically lived in her pussy for a week. This wasn’t

normal for him. None of this was. “Please, Matt. Don’t hold back. If this is to be our last time, I want it all.” She jutted her ass out as far as she could, and his cock was beating on his zipper, like it wanted to get out in a hurry. He had the condom on and the lube out before she could start begging because it wouldn’t be memorable if he squirted all over these boxes. Working her asshole with the slippery lube, he shook his head at the things he’d thought of to do with her on the plane and here. He slid in slow and held his hand on her back to restrict her movements, as he

pushed into her tight hole. “Unf…” Matt threw his head back and tried to control himself. If this was going to be the last time he knew her body like this, he wanted it to be good for both of them. She pushed her hands to her chest like she was going to do a push up and slammed her ass backwards onto his hard cock. “Emmy.” He didn’t know if he was asking her a question, or just pleading for her to continue, but she did that a few times before he knew that it wasn’t going to be long and the epic last time would

be cut short. There were too many things in play here. It didn’t slip his notice that the one person he’d like to be cavalier about, he wasn’t able to. “Give me all you’ve got, Matt. All… You’ve…Got.” She thrust back hard on him with every word, and then all hell broke loose in his body. He grabbed her hips and filled her ass deep and hard. She clenched around his cock, and he pounded her from the back. She met him stroke for stroke, and he wished he’d have taken off more of his clothes because he felt like he was going to explode.

If someone had come in the room, he wouldn’t have given two fucks because his nuts were drawn so tight against his body it felt like they were trying to go through his body to get into Emmy’s ass, too. “Fuck….Emmy, I’m going to…Fuucck!” The words that exited his body weren’t the words that came out when he had sex. He liked to talk dirty, and he loved when his partner liked it as well. However, this wasn’t dirty talk. This was the only way he was able to communicate with all the things going on with him and his cock in the snuggest ass he’d ever ridden. He couldn’t remember a time when he’d come so hard and for

so long. That shit seemed to go on forever. It didn’t help that she had been slamming back on him until the last thrust when she came herself. “Wow,” she said, like she was in a daze. He wondered if he’d been too rough. It wasn’t a question that normally came up because he was very in control of the setting and the situation. However, he was actually holding his breath, waiting for what she was going to say next. “That was so awesome. I’d say let’s do it again, but I get the feeling you have to go.” He looked at his watch, and she was right his ride would be there any minute,

and since it was military sent, it wouldn’t be a good thing to keep them waiting. He’d bought a few things while they were at the gift shop; wipes were a part of the supplies that he’d purchased. It didn’t take long for them to get cleaned up, and he knew that she had a good hour before her flight took off for the Philippians. This wasn’t him… loss for words… indecisive… looking for how to end something. This was the reason he left her the way he had in Hawaii. They had something kind of special, but it had come at the wrong time. This was the second time that fate had thrown her into his lap. Maybe there would be a third time in the future when he could do

something about it. “Come on. Let’s go.” He gathered up his bag and watched her gather up her purse, and they left the quiet haven that they’d made together. She followed along, but she didn’t take his hand, and he understood that. This was a separation, not the next step. They learned that even though her flight wasn’t for another hour, her luggage was on its way to her destination. That was great; he had been hoping that she could get some of her medication that she’d missed. He didn’t want to make a big damn deal about it because he knew she would think he was coddling her, but

he’d looked up the medication and what she’d had done; it wasn’t a small procedure, but a lifelong commitment. No wonder her family was doting on her. They were probably happy she was around. When they got to the top of the stairs, they found where she was supposed to go, and he was going to wait with her for a few more minutes. “Would you like something to eat?” he asked her, as he looked around at the offerings and feeling something spark at spending a bit more time with Emmy. She walked in front of him and turned so

she was facing him. “Matt. You should probably just go. There is someone who is coming for you, and it doesn’t make sense that you’d have dinner here when you have somewhere to go. You’re in the military, and you don’t have time for whatever this is. I get it, but when you drag it out, it kills me just a little.” Matt looked down at Emmy and saw that she was fighting hard to keep herself together, and while he was no stranger to tears, it wasn’t his favorite thing to do, but for her, he wanted to soothe her. It was unfortunate that he was the person she needed soothing for. “Oh, okay then.” Matt cleared his throat

because there were a lot of things he wanted to say, but they didn’t seem appropriate, and he didn’t want to make her hang on and wait for him. The words that were threatening to revolt had, “Let’s see what can be made of this” all over it. He leaned down to give her a kiss on the cheek, and she stood still like a statue. She must want him gone faster than he was going. He stepped back and hefted his sack over his back before walking toward the exit. “Matt?” She didn’t say that his name loud, but it was like he was tuned in to her frequency. Her mouth opened and closed, like she, too, was finding it difficult to find the words that would

make sentences to express what she was feeling right now. He didn’t move while she tried to put something together, but he did turn around like he was going to come back to her, but she held up her hand in the universal sign of stop. “Thank you. You’ve made me feel things I’ve never felt and made me believe in a woman who I had some doubts about.” She turned away and walked quickly before he could say anything. He should have been able to walk over to where she was and find her, but if he did, what would he say. It wasn’t like he

wasn’t telling her where they were going to eventually end up when they were done here. He couldn’t make any promises, so whatever bullshit he was trying to come up with to make her feel good was just that…bullshit. He walked toward the door when a voice came screeching toward him. “Commander…,” Carolyn, the flight attendant from the plane, came rushing over to him, so he stopped to see what she wanted although he already knew. She probably knew someone at the base and wanted a ride or that would be the excuse she’d use. Little did she know that he was late for a mission and

wouldn’t be playing with her or anyone else tonight. “Yes?” “I have a friend at the base, and I was hoping to catch a ride with you.” She seemed like she ran the whole way, but that would be odd since there was a large chunk of time that was missing. “I’m sure the car can take you to the base. Does your friend know you’re coming?” he asked because he had a feeling that she was trying to pull a fast one on him. Thinking that he slept with Emmy on first sight, he was probably a horn dog who would do that with

anyone. “I think so.” She was acting very coy and flirty. He couldn’t remember a time when he was so agitated. “Then let’s see if there is room for you. She looped her arm around his like they were walking out together, but he stopped her. “Look, Carolyn. I don’t know what you think is going to happen if you get on the base, but I have orders. I’m going to sleep in the public base housing, and I’m out in the morning. There isn’t going to

be anything between us.” He was shocked to see that her facial expression didn’t change. She still had a silly, lovesick look about her. “Alright,” she said, as she let go of his arm. “Could you take my bag to the car though?” He didn’t see why she needed that when the damn thing had wheels on it, but if it would shut her up and he could get some sleep and stop thinking about the piece of him he was leaving here in this airport, he’d do it. Carolyn looked around, like she was going to miss the place when he knew

she would probably be coming back to this same place tomorrow. When they reached the car, he had to see the people who had waited for him and they weren’t amused, especially when he told him about Carolyn. It didn’t matter that she wasn’t with him. If she had a friend who was at the base, he’d better be willing to get up at the crack of dawn and bring her back because she’d be waiting at the entry station if that didn’t occur. When the bags and Carolyn were in the car, Matt could feel eyes on him, but when he turned to see who it was, the feeling left. It would have been nice to

see Emmy one more time, but he knew that wouldn’t have made anything any better. It was better this way. He got into the car and slammed the door. “Where is your girlfriend?” Carolyn asked when the driver pulled off. “I don’t have one. She was just a friend.” “It looks like she’s going to the Philippines, so you may be lonely tonight.” She wasn’t very good at beating around the bush. Carolyn put it right out there, so he thought he’d return the favor and volley it right back.

“I don’t want or need anyone to keep me company, but I thank you. You may want to get your phone out so you can call whoever is going to pick you up from the entrance. I can get you that far, but I’m not going to have you on the base on my say so when I don’t know you.” “It’s really late to call someone.” She looked like she knew she was attractive and any man would want to have her at his disposal, but it was clear that she didn’t know him. “The driver can take you back to the airport to make other arrangements if what I’m suggesting isn’t something you’d like to do.” Matt knew she was

getting the brunt end of his repressed anger, but no one told her to hitch a ride with the man with the thorn in his paw. He looked at her, and she looked at the floor. A different Carolyn had emerged, the one who knew when to shut the hell up and go for the ride. “I’m sorry I caused you so much trouble.” She was trying to play on his emotions, acting like she was so distraught by his behavior, but it wasn’t working. “I’m sorry you like to cause trouble, too.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN Emmy was in a pissy, bitchy mood, and it stemmed from watching Carolyn sink her meaty hooks into Matt not even thirty minutes after he’d howled like a wolf on a full moon while he was riding her ass. What did it really matter? He was done with her anyway, right? It had been the longest hour of her life. Half of her wanted to find Matt and that skank and find out why he couldn’t even wait to get out of the airport before allowing himself to go home with someone else. Hell, he’d picked her up in an airport. Maybe he was knuckle deep into her pussy right now. The

landscape around her got a little blurry, and she stopped what she was thinking immediately. There was no way in hell that she was going to allow herself to cry over someone who wouldn’t even ask for her cell phone number before he ran off with someone else. The next set of flight attendants were lining up at the door, and she thought it was time to leave this portion of her journey, as she started for the next. She was wiser than she was a few days ago, and she learned more about herself than she’d learned in the last four years of college. She was going to chuck all this up as a learning experience.

“I’m sorry everyone. There has been a change of plans. A weather advisory has gone into effect for the island, and no planes are allowed to fly in or out until further notice.” The perky blonde woman looked like she shared everyone’s dismay. Emmy wondered if they taught them how to look like they had empathy for everyone and their plight. Emmy didn’t care one bit if they got there today or tomorrow since she wasn’t on anyone’s timetable but her own. “We will be providing rooms for the night…well, morning. We’ll see how it looks in the morning and if the ban can be lifted from the airport. Please see one

of the four attendants holding a sign with the corresponding letter of your last name to get your room key and then exit the front door to the waiting bus.” They were herded like cattle to get to their destinations, and it wouldn’t have been too bad if she’d had her luggage. There was nothing she could do about her luggage making the trip to her next stop while she stayed here. At least no one would know that she’d lost her medication for the day, and it didn’t look like she was going to get to take it tomorrow on time either. She took a deep breath and tried not to worry about it. There was nothing she could do and worrying about blood clots forming

around her metal valve wouldn’t help. When she finally got to her room, she had herself so worked up it wouldn’t have surprised her if she had a heart attack just from worrying. She tried to tell herself that there were studies about people who cured themselves from all types of things with the power of positive thinking. That’s what I can do… think positively. She took a shower and tried to wash the day away, knowing that she was washing the last of Matt from her skin, as well. That shouldn’t have made her sad, but it did. When she lay down on the bed after her shower, she tried to work on the

power of positive thinking—but most of the positive thoughts eluded her. It could have been because she was hungry. She wasn’t hungry when Matt had suggested they get something to eat. No. That wasn’t true. It wasn’t that I wasn’t hungry. It was that if I had to look at his beautiful face, his light brown hair, and those cornflower blue eyes—all while he was trying to be sweet or fucking me up against any surface he could find—I was going to fall farther into him than I already did, and he’d already told me that this wasn’t something that he was taking seriously. It was her decision to cut her losses and

just let him go instead of allowing him to linger and take more and more of her heart with him. When she saw Carolyn run after him, the emptiness in the pit of her stomach was filled with rage. Was it childish that she followed them? Maybe, but it could also have been that she needed to stretch her legs… or she needed to work on her spy skills. You never know when you’ll need something like that. She watched Carolyn get in the car, putting her hands on Matt as she talked about his muscles. Or at least that’s what it looked like, she couldn’t really hear anything from where she stood. All she knew was that he carried her bag, like a real gentle man, even though it had wheels, and he helped her

get settled in the car. Emmy could have sworn that Carolyn looked right at her, but she couldn’t be sure, and even if she was… what would that mean. She was out, and apparently, Carolyn was in. The knock at the door was a pleasant surprise. Maybe they were coming around with complimentary snacks or a sample of pizza. Opening the door, her mood sank, and along with it, the hope for food at the door. “I’m sorry I was late when it was time to choose, so I was assigned this room with you.” Carolyn looked a bit wary, but she had to know who Emmy was. Why would she choose to stay in a room with

her? She must have a death wish, because Emmy was feeling particularly murderous. There wasn’t anything to do but let her in. The occupancy of the hotel and the number of passengers on the plane should have told her when she saw this two-bed room that there would be someone staying with her. “It’s been a crazy night?” Carolyn was trying to go for the let’s be friends vibe, but little did she know Emmy was praying that she didn’t hurt the woman in her sleep. “Yep,” Emmy said in a tone she hoped

conveyed that there should only be sleeping done and not much else. “Well, I took my shower, and I’m headed to bed. Feel free to do what you do. Don’t worry about making noise; I can sleep through almost anything.” Emmy got into bed, knowing that she’d not be able to sleep with this snake in her room, but it was a free room, and she’d said that she’d share when they asked her about it. If she would have thought for a minute it would have been this woman in her room, she’d have said no. Come to think of it, why isn’t she still with Matt? You know what… not my circus… not my monkeys. That is what I have to remember when it comes

to that man and what he did. Carolyn went to the bathroom and showered while Emmy stewed so hard she shouldn’t have been hungry; she could have had a bowl of the anger she’d been brewing all night. “Emmy?” Carolyn was sitting on her bed, and Emmy thought about ignoring her, but what would be the point of that? She didn’t answer her, but she turned over so she was facing the woman. It was getting light outside, so she could see her even though the lights were off. “I saw you watching me and the

commander as we made our way to the car.” Emmy still didn’t see a reason to talk to her about any of this. She would neither confirm nor deny what the woman thought she saw. “Did you spend time with the commander when he was in Hawaii?” “Look, Carolyn, I’m not sure what this is or what you think you’re going to be getting out of this, but I’m not really in the mood to talk to you about Matt. The man’s name is Matt.” “I understand. I really don’t know what

came over me. When I met Matt on the plane, I thought we may be able to have some fun together, but when you popped up out of nowhere and were fucking in the bathroom, I was really upset. Did I have a reason to be upset? No, but that’s what happened. I asked for a ride to the base to see a friend on the base, but she wasn’t there. He dropped me off at the entrance. I came back here to find that I couldn’t get a plane out of here, so they are putting me up like they’re putting you up.” Carolyn seemed like she was in a better place, but right now but it was hard to know what kind of woman she really was. She was going to trust her and get a few hours of sleep.

“I get it. He’s gorgeous, but he’s mentally and emotionally unavailable. You saved yourself by not attaching yourself to him.” Emmy was telling the woman the truth, but in reality she wouldn’t have traded it for the world. Even if she knew that this heartache was coming, she’d still have chosen to be with him. He was a fun, witty, intelligent, sexy, beautiful man who knew how to pleasure a woman with his mind as well as his body. There was no reason to tell Carolyn that, because that would have just been mean. “I’m going to try to think about that if I ever see him again, but I’m pretty sure that if he’d have chosen me, I wouldn’t

have cared if it was for just one night or for all of the ones that followed.” “So, I’m guessing this is a truce?” Emmy asked the woman who was almost asleep on the bed next to hers. The snoring was the only response that greeted Emmy, and she was happy about that. Since she was virtually alone, she would go to sleep and hope that the planes would be allowed to leave the island in the morning. Closing her eyes, she tried not to think about the man who was making her crazy, even as he had probably forgotten about her. Sometimes that’s just the way life goes.

*** It was after noon the next day when they were all called to come to the lobby. While they were told that there was a typhoon building and it looked like it was on its way to the island, she was counting. Was she concerned about being in a natural disaster? Absolutely, but she was also aware that she had, indeed, missed two days of anti-coagulant, the medication that helped her blood move freely around the metal valve in her heart. The medical staff talked to her about what to happen if she immediately stopped taking the medication, and she knew that death was one of the possibilities. There were other

possibilities that she couldn’t really remember, because when death was listed, that pretty much trumped all the rest of the symptoms, right? Carolyn was by her side, like the truce they’d had last night was going to extend throughout their whole association. Looking at how grim the management and the airport staff were, it seemed like it may be a long while. It wasn’t that the woman was bad, mean, or evil, she saw something she wanted and went after it. Truly, she was the woman that Emmy was trying to be… if you left the whole going-after-Matt out of the equation. “We will be transporting you all to the

military base that is on the island. It’s being set up for you now. It’s a large warehouse that will hopefully withstand the typhoon, if it hits.” It was the same blonde woman from that morning. Emmy didn’t know if her job title included being the bearer of bad news, but she wasn’t as peppy as she was a few hours ago when they moved to this hotel. Carolyn looked frightened, and Emmy wanted to help her, but she was in the same situation. “I guess we should get on the bus,” Emmy said to a Carolyn who looked like she was going to lose the continental breakfast she’d just consumed. “Why are

you in the crowd with all of us nonworkers? Shouldn’t you be up front helping?” “Actually, this is my week off. I was supposed to do the flight last night and then I was going to go back home today. I should have just gotten on the plane and returned right then. It was the last plane allowed to leave.” Carolyn looked like she was holding something back. “What aren’t you telling me, Carolyn?” “I was supposed to leave, but when I saw that you were getting on your flight and the commander… ummm… Matt was staying, I figured I had a chance

with him.” She did appear to look sheepish, and Emmy couldn’t find fault with her trying—although it made her madder than a prom queen who had been pranked and splattered with blood. Unfortunately for her but fortunate for Carolyn, she didn’t have those same powers. Emmy didn’t say anything to that but continued to look away from Carolyn. There was no need for her to see what her words had done. It wasn’t that she was upset with Carolyn; it just made her think about how sought after Matt was. Maybe that was the reason he didn’t want to put forth any effort to be with her. Yeah, he said it was so she wouldn’t

wait around for him, but that couldn’t be it. If she wanted to wait around, that was her business, not his. It didn’t matter; he’d made his choice, and she was standing here with Carolyn waiting out a typhoon. They loaded on the bus and drove to the facility that was supposed to protect them. Nothing like the words ‘evacuation station and fallout shelter’ on the outside to make you feel safe. The actual building was made out of cement blocks, and although it didn’t look like it would be featured on Homes and Gardens as a comfortable spot to take a nice vacation, it did make her feel rather safe.

There were cots lined up in the large facility that made her think of disaster movies, but each and every green cot had a chocolate brown blanket on it. She had to hand it to them, they knew what to do in an emergency. She didn’t have much stuff, but she tried to keep what she had close at hand. “This isn’t so bad,” Carolyn said, and Emmy thought that there probably should be some mental health providers in the room to help when people started to crack. “I guess it’s all a matter of perspective.”

Carolyn got really quiet and was almost full of awe, so Emmy turned to see what had caught her attention and found Matt in fatigues and combat boots. She’d seen him in multiple levels of dress and undress, but this outfit took his sexiness to another level… or maybe it was the look of fierceness on his face. What had put that level of ferociousness there? He was walking right toward her, and she was surprised just how fast her heart was going. It was like she was tuning everyone else out. This was a large place, so it took a while for him to reach her, and she looked around and saw the lust and awe on a lot of female and male faces around her.

When he finally reached her, he nodded to everyone who’d watched them like they were on a television show. “Emmy, can I speak to you for a moment?” There was absolutely no reason for Emmy not to want to talk to him, but she was feeling very put out about his behavior and didn’t know what he could possibly want from her. “Sure,” she said, turning toward him. “I wanted to talk to you in private, if that’s possible.” Matt looked like he wasn’t one to be denied what he wanted,

and that made her just that more defiant. “There’s nothing you can say to me that can’t be said right here.” Emmy stood her ground and watched the serious look on his face soften a bit, but he wasn’t backing down. He looked at her with a quirked brow, and she tried to catalog everything that he could possibly say. Commander sexy pants couldn’t say anything about their relationship, and she didn’t want to fall back into his arms only to have him shoo her away like a poor beggar on the street. No thank you. She said that she was going to take this as a learning experience, and she learned that this man

could make her stupid and she should make sure that the person values her before she offers her heart or the treasure between her legs. “Are you sure?” he asked, giving her another opportunity to take this somewhere private, but she knew that it would be harder to resist him if she didn’t have an audience. She took the moment to look at her newest and oddest partner in crime who looked like she would volunteer her services to go anywhere Matt wanted to take her. “Yes. I’m sure. What can I help you with, Commander?” Emmy was feeling so brave and vindicated.

“The anti-coagulant that you take daily may be available for your use. I’ve researched the importance of the medication, and I know from talking with you that it’s been two days now since you’ve had your medication.” Emmy couldn’t believe that she’d forgotten that he’d known about that and that he’d have remembered with all that was at stake. She didn’t want to look into why he was so worried about it or what he was going to do with the information. She chose to take the ‘so what’ approach and shrugged her shoulders.

“What is the dosage of the medication that you take?” he continued on, like he didn’t notice she was giving him shit. “I’ll be fine, Matt. We’ll probably be out of here by tonight.” “We aren’t sure what’s going to happen with this storm. It’s a big one and it’s coming our way for sure. There are a lot of things that we military personnel are concerning ourselves with, and we want each and every one of you to be safe.” He sounded like a public service announcement. It seemed like he was saying that he cared about her wellbeing because the government wanted to make sure everyone was being

medically appropriate. That pissed her off, but she wasn’t sure why. However, if she had to guess, it was because she really wanted his concern to be more personal than business. “I’ll be fine,” she told him again. He stepped closer to her, and she knew that face. Her pussy heated up like there was a switch in her panties. He wasn’t going to take no for an answer, and in this mode, she found him incredibly attractive. It wasn’t like they normally slept together when he was like this, but just being this close to him…smelling his unique sent and looking at his bright blue eyes was making her want to go

back to the first question—when he wanted to speak to her alone. “The dosage, ma’am.” This time it wasn’t a question; it was a demand, and since she didn’t want to look like she wasn’t co-operating with such a simple task around all these people, she told him what she was on and how much. He looked like he wanted to say something else, but he settled for nodding his head at her before he walked off. With the last of his loud clicking boots marking the time and distance he was away, it was like a rush of activity.

“Is that your boyfriend?” asked a woman who was seated in the cot a few spaces away. She looked like she wanted to hear the whole story. Emmy could only look in the direction where she’d last seen Matt walk off and answer in the most honest way she knew how. “I wish.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN Matt knew that he didn’t have much time. They’d told the civilians that there was a possibility that they may be hit by the storm, but like usual with the government and its people, they tell them only the need-to-know information. Did they need to know that the storm was practically a guarantee and the magnitude may just wipe away the whole island? No. What would that do besides cause chaos? Nothing. It was important for him to find medication for Emmy because the chance of her meeting her luggage within a week, if the storm did what they

thought it would, was slim—and closer to none. The medical personnel was out, as was his commanding officer. What was done in situations like this? Probably nothing, as it was a task that they wouldn’t usually do, but this was something unusual. Calling the lead in charge seemed to be the only thing that he could do at this time. “Hello?” The captain seemed quite put out at the call, and he knew what the man was dealing with, trying to get all the people on the island to safety. “Hello, Captain. This is Lieutenant

Commander Matt Perrier.” “Lieutenant, as you know this is a serious time crunch situation we are in and I don’t have a lot of time. Please be brief.” “We have a civilian whose luggage is in route to her next destination, and I’ve become aware that she doesn’t have a medication that could possibly be detrimental to her health. Even as far as life or death, sir.” Matt tried to put it in a way that the man would know that this is something serious and not to be played with. “I’m sorry to hear that. The medical unit

has been closed down, and there is a possibility that we can get the medication this person needs after the storm.” “That’s the best we can do, sir?” Matt knew he was pushing the envelope at this stage of the game, but this was Emmy they were talking about. “Is this person meaningful to you, Lieutenant? Because that’s the only reason I can think of that you’d be trying this hard for one person when we have over a thousand people in that one facility.” The man sounded like he was getting ticked off, and in the scheme of things, he could see how this would

seem very trivial. “Yes, sir, this person is meaningful to me.” It was the truth, and he knew that he’d rather get his ass handed to him on a platter than to not have a medication that could cause some complication for Emmy. The older man grunted into the phone, but there were no more words. “Thank you, sir, for your time. I’ll figure something out.” Matt didn’t want to take up any more of this man’s time, as he could make his life more of a living hell than it already was.

“You work on it from your side, and I’ll see what I can do from here. What is the medication called?” Matt was grateful that the powerful man was going to at least try to find out what was going on with the medication, but if he was going to work on his side, he’d better get started. After letting his boss know about the name and milligram dosage of the medication, he got off the phone and hoped that he didn’t mess the gentleman up too much with his plans for the safety of the other civilians on the island. “Perrier?” His superior called out to him before ending the call.

“Yes, sir?” “Do your best by this woman. If she’s making you feel like turning over stones and upsetting apple carts in her honor, think about what she means to you. I’ve got to go. Be safe, son,” the man said before he disconnected the call. Matt made his way back to the place where Emmy was and started asking each passenger and person in the facility if they used the type of medication Emmy was on. He was halfway through the place when the person he was asking the questions for showed up.

“What are you doing?” She came up on his left side when he was talking to someone on his right. He finished up what he was saying to the man who had a medication that was close—but with no medical personnel available, he couldn’t chance it. He turned to her and checked her over to see if she looked like she was any worse for the wear. “Can I talk to you privately for a minute?” She looked like she was pissed off and ready to give him a piece of her mind. “Is there any reason that you can’t say

what you want to say to me in front of all these people?” He threw her words back at her just because he could, but he knew that they were in a race against the clock, and he wanted to make sure that she wouldn’t survive the typhoon only to be killed because she didn’t have the correct medication in her system. “I’m sorry. Now is not the time for pettiness. Let’s find a place where you can tell me what’s on your mind.” There were a few rooms where they could have gone, but this one was the one he was given to hunker down when the storm hit. He welcomed her in and watched her sit down on a simple chair in the middle of the floor.

“I have heard that you’re asking everyone if they are on Coumadin, and if they can let me have a few tablets.” She waited like she wanted to hear the words coming out of his mouth. He wasn’t ashamed about what he was doing. As a matter of fact, when they were done with this conversation, he was going right back out there to find out who had the medication she needed. “Yes. What about it?” He answered her in a tone that brooked no arguments about this. If she didn’t want him to do it, he would accept that, but it wouldn’t stop him from finding the mediation she needed. Her health was too great of an

issue for her to find some imaginary insult in that. “I don’t want you to have to do that. It really won’t be all that long of a period that I’ve gone without.” Her eyes beseeched him like he should understand what she was talking about. “I’m not really interested in your medical nonchalance, Emmy. I know you’ve not had that medication for at least two days. That medication isn’t one that you can just start and stop. It’s bad enough that we don’t have the systems up to test your blood to see if you’re at therapeutic levels, but just knowing that you have the amount of medication daily

that your doctor wanted you to have would be encouraging, and I am going to find someone with it so you can have it in your system.” “You are acting worse than my family.” She sounded sad, but he couldn’t care about that. “I’m sorry that you feel that way, but I want you to make it home in one piece. Your family cares about you. That’s why they act the way they do…not out of some misguided thoughts you have in your head.” She looked like he’d betrayed her, and if this was what her family had to deal

with, he could see their frustration. “You’re doing all this for some woman for whom you couldn’t even bother getting her phone number? It makes no sense how involved you are with this. Getting all the people here involved in your quest and moving mountains trying to get medical facilities opened,” Emmy said, like she knew that as a fact. “How did you know that?” he asked, as he moved closer to where she sat. If the civilians could get that kind of information that quickly, it made him wonder if there was a breach in security. She looked at him quizzically and had

just a bit of a smile on her face. “I know you, Matt Perrier. That was probably one of the first things you did. You are nothing if you’re not resourceful, and you wouldn’t have wanted to waste time. You probably went to the top of the food chain here. Surprising him with the request for one person when they are dealing with the problems of many.” He shouldn’t have been surprised by how well she knew him. Between sex and talking, the percentage of each that had been done was a tie. Matt felt like he knew her, too, and he liked what he knew. Too much. Apparently, it was clear to everyone how he’d felt about her, if he took into consideration the

sappy look on people’s faces when they found out what he was talking to everyone about. Emmy looked tired, and he didn’t know if that was because of the missing medication, or if she was just tired of his shit. He’d put her through a lot, but it was for her own good. That answer, even in his own mind, stopped him in his tracks. I really am thinking for her. How would I feel if someone did that for me? I would not be happy. That is a fact. He walked over to Emmy and pulled her up from the chair and into a hug. It

wasn’t supposed to be sexual, just a hug because he didn’t know how he’d feel if something happened to her on his watch. “I can’t do this with you, Matt.” She pulled out of his arms and walked near the door. It was almost like she was afraid of him. “I know that you haven’t liked my treatment of you since we left Hawaii, but I hope you’re not afraid of me.” She didn’t give him much encouragement when she hugged herself and looked so lost he wanted to kick his own ass for bringing this kind of pain to her door.

“It’s not that I’m afraid of you, Matt, because I think you’ll physically hurt me or force me to do something I don’t want to do. It’s that being around you makes me happy, and I want to do all kinds of dirty, naughty things with you, but at the end of that, I’ll be ready to see what else we can make with such a great connection, and you’ll be riding off with another woman.” Matt couldn’t believe what she was saying…well, some of it was true, but there were other parts that needed some clarification. “I literally drove off with Carolyn yesterday, but she said she needed a ride to the base and I gave her one. She was supposed to call the

person she was there to see at the front gate. When you say ‘ride off’—it makes me think you had some idea that I rode off with her to fill in for you.” “Whether it was her or someone else, I didn’t get the opportunity to say what I wanted in this whole thing. I think that is some of my frustration. I came on this trip to find myself, and the first thing that needs to change is me being a doormat. Everyone just walks over me, telling me what I need to do and what I should do…what’s good for me and what isn’t. I’m sick of it.” He walked over to the door just so he could be near her. “You are absolutely

right about everyone doing what they think is best for you, but it’s not because people don’t care or think you’re a doormat. It’s because we care about you, and we don’t understand why you don’t care more. I agree that you shouldn’t have to worry about everyone telling you what you should do, but if it’s about your health, then you should understand that people want you around more than you want to be around.” She didn’t look like she wanted a hug, so he just stood there for a few minutes. “I’d like to ask your permission to find the medication for you. The truth is the storm is coming and I don’t know how

much damage there is going to be, or how long you’ll be stuck here. It is not my wish to force you into anything. You are an adult, and if you want to stop me from working on your behalf to find something I think you need, let me know. I’ll accommodate your wishes.” That was all he could give her, and as much as it hurt him to do it, he would. The inner turmoil was strong, as she thought everyone was treating her without really talking to her. He’d done the same thing although he didn’t think it was like that as he did it. She looked up at him, and it seemed like it was the first time she’d done it with clear eyes in a while. Her eyes weren’t

clouded with lust, confusion, or anger. All he saw was understanding. When she lifted her arms to pull him in for a hug, he almost lifted her off the floor. It had been a long night without her. It was like she’d been embedded into him, and knowing he wasn’t going to see her again was like a physical pain. This morning when he was supposed to get his marching orders, he’d found out that the island was about to be hit by a natural disaster. He was ordered to stay there to see what would be needed, since he was already there. There was a list of people who were still on the island and were being moved. His heart lifted and dropped when he’d seen that Emmy was still here. Was it a sign? He

wasn’t sure, but that was what he was going to take it for. “You have my permission to find medication for me. Thank you for asking.” She gave him a quick peck on the mouth but then moved away from him. He understood. He’d been worse than a bipolar roller coaster, giving with one hand and taking with the other. His phone rang so he stepped up to answer it. The private phone was a secured line and only rang with official military business. “Lieutenant Commander Perrier,” Matt answered in a voice so sharp it would

be able to cut something. “At ease, Perrier. Come to the mess hall by the north tower; I need to talk to you. I’ll be waiting so don’t dawdle.” The captain didn’t mince words, so he must have a mission or task he wanted him to complete. “Yes, sir.” Matt hung up the phone and tried not to be discouraged about having to stop looking for medications for Emmy, especially since he’d just gotten her permission, but the military called and he was there to answer. “I’ve got to go, but I’ll continue my search when I get back.” He moved

toward the door and watched her wrap her arms around herself. She was really something special. Leaning down slowly, he went in for a kiss, but he wanted to make sure she was on board. They’d already had the talk about people just taking from her. When she raised her head, he went in without concern, but he knew the soft peck they were giving each other could get out of hand like a California brush fire. “Stay safe.” “You too.” She was looking like a lost puppy, and with the way things were going, he didn’t want that to be the last thing she thought or said to him. “I’ll be back,” he promised, hoping that

it was true. “You’d better be,” she answered back.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN Emmy didn’t know what to think about the sudden events of her life. The crew that was keeping them informed was telling them one thing, that everything was going to be fine and they’d be out of there soon, but Matt had eluded more than once that this storm was more serious than they were all being told. It made sense. If all these people thought there was a problem and their lives were in danger, there would be chaos and terror—two things that didn’t work well together if they were going to do things in a calm and orderly fashion. She made her way back to her cot and

was not surprised that everyone was staring at her. There wasn’t much news going in or out of this area and people were relatively bored. Her story was the most interesting thing going. “So?” Carolyn was the only one to actually put voice to the questions, but that was probably because the woman thought they had some kind of bond between them. “Matt has been trying to find some medication for me since I have a heart condition that requires that I take an anticoagulant. Before you ask, it’s a medication that keeps my blood flowing through my veins. Without it, I may

develop some clots that could ruin my life. Seriously and permanently.” Emmy wanted to let the people know what was going on because after talking to Matt she could kind of understand her family a bit more than she normally did. She’d always get defensive when someone wanted to do something for her—not taking it as what it was…a sign that the person loved her and wanted to help her do what was right…whether she wanted the same thing or not. “Where is he?” the woman on the cot behind her called out. “He got an urgent call and had to go somewhere on the base.”

“They said the storm is coming up quickly, and they are going to batten down whatever hatches they have. I hope your man friend doesn’t get caught out there and whipped around in the storm.” Although she was sure that last comment was said in good spirits and with the best of intentions, the thought that Matt could get hurt in the storm twisted something in her gut. The rains that pelted the building were fierce, and Emmy sat by the door, hoping that the person she was looking for would come through it at any time, but it didn’t happen. The storm blew harder and harder on the cinder block building, but

it didn’t seem like anyone was worried about Matt. The blonde, that seemed to be the spokesperson for the airline and this disaster, stood by the door as well. “There isn’t any way to check on someone who’s out in this storm, is there?” Emmy tried to get information from the frazzled-looking woman using her sweetest voice. It sometimes opened up doors that her more confident demeanor couldn’t. The woman ran around to her group of papers that had everyone’s name on them. “Who was it? I thought we had

everyone accounted for.” “Oh no… I’m sorry. I was talking about the man who was helping me find medication. He’s a Navy SEAL named Matt Perrier.” The woman stopped shuffling through her papers and looked at her. “We don’t have any control or authority over any of the military personnel. If he was helping you, he is probably still around.” “He got a call and had to go outside to meet someone.” Emmy was thankful that the woman was trying to be helpful, but she could tell that the lady didn’t think she’d be able to help her.

“The man went outside? Recently?” “About a half hour ago I’d say.” The look on the woman’s face wasn’t encouraging, as she walked over to the one small window that was made out of blocked glass. It wasn’t a crystal clear view, but it was obvious that the storm had arrived. Whether it was the main one or a different one, it didn’t look like it was fit out there for man or beast. “I don’t know what to tell you. Maybe he’s out there waiting until the storm slows down.”

That is what someone who had any sense would do, but she knew, somewhere deep down in her soul, that he’d try his best to make it back to her…or die trying. Die trying. That phrase that she’d always heard and didn’t really pay attention to seemed to reverberate around the chamber of her head. That fool better not die trying to get back to her. It would be so much better if he just stayed where he was until the weather was better. If she had his cell phone, she could have called, but that wasn’t something she had at her disposal. The winds could be heard blowing around the building. She wasn’t quite sure what a typhoon was, but it sounded

scary as all hell. There were things hitting the building, and the rustle of the trees outside were like newspapers being thrown around. It crossed her mind several times that this place was an island and could probably be taken down by the sea without much effort. That wasn’t the best use of her mind space but what else could she do. There was a pounding on the large steel door that seemed to shake the hinges. The staff that was stationed by the door looked like they didn’t know what to do but got up to open the door. When they tried to crack it open, the doors blew back, and in came a rush of wind, rain, and debris along with three men.

She went over to see what was going on, and when she locked eyes on Matt she didn’t care what had gone before or what was going on after, she was going to be with him right now. She got to him at the same time the man in the white uniform came behind him. “Is this the woman we’ve all risked life and limb for?” His gruff voice was slightly hostile in tone, but she didn’t blame him. “I’m sorry for any inconvenience, sir.” Emmy was sorry for all that these men had gone through because they looked like they almost didn’t make it. Three

men were out in this storm, and now she found out it was for her own needs. It was humbling. “Sorry for my attitude, young lady. This young man wanted to make sure you had what you needed, and he was so persuasive I wanted to go and get it with him. None of this is any fault of your own, and as they say…All’s well that ends well.” The older man walked off, and Matt grabbed her hand and walked her to his room in the back. When they were almost there, the lights went off. “Everyone stay near your cot until

further notice.” A voice rang out in the darkness. It was dark outside, but the inside of a warehouse with very limited windows made it unbelievably dark. A small light shone on the area right by Matt’s feet. Of course, he’d have a flashlight… what kind of fighting machine would he be without that. He led them through the maze of people until he got to his room. He was able to open the door with his key and get them inside. When he closed the door, it was like they were in their own private world. It was dark, besides the light of his flashlight. Although Emmy could still hear the rustling of the trees and the howling of the wind, it was more like a

sanctuary instead of the cluster fuck it seemed like beyond these walls. She heard a crinkling of a bag, and he walked over to her with the brown medicine bottle. With him near her, she could see the bottle had her name on it— and the name and dosage of the medication. “You didn’t have to do all this. I thought you were going to just get me a few pills to make it through.” Emmy was overwhelmed with gratitude over how hard he’d worked to get this medication to her. It was more than just a pill. It was about how much he cared about her, whether he said it or not, and how

important her safety and well-being was to him. “I wanted to make sure you had what you needed, no matter how long all of this takes. If I rested and you weren’t where you needed to be by tomorrow, it would be just that much more of a problem. I like to take care of things that are important to me.” “I don’t know if I should be bothered because you said I was a thing, or if I should be flattered that you said you care about me.” He didn’t add anything to what she was saying, and she wondered if he somehow

let that slip when he’d not really wanted to say it. “You must be tired,” she said and giggled because she knew how that sounded. “Boom chica waa waa,” Matt sang in a 1970s porn song way. “I knew you were going to think that was a cheesy line, but really, you’ve done a lot today.” “I’m rather tired, but I’m just happy you got your medication. I don’t want to tick you off further since we had that very enlightening conversation earlier, but

how about you actually take the pill that I risked my life and the lives of two other military personnel to obtain?” He handed her a bottle of water, and he watched intently as she took the pill and washed it down with some water. “Happy now?” she asked him. “Very,” he said, as he lay on his bunk. She wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do. Go back to her bunk, lay down with him, or stand there awkwardly in the middle of the floor? “This is a very bad storm. Even with how horrible it sounds outside, this isn’t

the storm that everyone is terrified about. That storm is behind this storm. There are so many things we need to work out and so much to say, but for right now, let’s just lay here together and be happy that we can do so.” Matt didn’t sound sleepy, just tired. It was almost like he was telling her that they were doomed. He was calm, but she wondered what it must be like to live like this all the time. Going from crisis to crisis, seeing everyone at their worst and leaving when things were getting better, only to go off to find another crisis. She lay in the bed next to him, and it

couldn’t be anything other than intimate. It was a twin bed, and they were both grownups, so it wasn’t like sleeping at her cousin Lily’s house in her cute Strawberry Shortcake bedding. The bed may have been child sized, but the man in it wasn’t. There were times during the last few hours that she’d wished she could just forget the man who was Matt Perrier, but it was always just a fleeting thought because she had more fun with him than anyone else she’d ever been with. If she was going to face an end of the world scenario, she’d rather have done it on a video game, but since it was not like that, she couldn’t choose anyone other

than Matt to be with. “Is everything alright?” Matt said into the darkness. She didn’t want to answer because everything was alright…and then again it didn’t seem like everything was ever going to be alright again. Emmy slid her hand across Matt’s midsection and then lowered her hand to the front of his pants. It didn’t take long for the substantial bulge that she was used to seeing and feeling popped up. He placed his hand over hers. “I heard what you were saying before I left earlier. I didn’t ask you to lay next to me

so I could explore your beautiful body again. My only goal was to have you near me for a little while and get some rest while we ride out the storm.” “I hate this waiting. I feel cooped up and filled with energy. You’re not forcing me to do anything. If anything, I’m kind of pushing myself on you.” She should feel like she was wishy washy for coming on to him after she’d already told him she had to be done with him, but the situation they were in called for honesty and understanding. “I understand what you were saying about keeping me away from you for my own safety. I won’t say I like it, but you’re a protector and it’s hard for you to keep yourself out of my

business when you think you can help.” She jabbed him in the ribs playfully. “Thanks. Being in charge all the time can make me rather forceful when I think someone should be doing something I think they should be doing, but I heard you when you told me I was acting like your family.” She hadn’t stopped rubbing his cock, and it was almost the way they’d first met— with her spilling a drink on him and then somehow practically giving him a hand job through his pants. “Are you planning on doing something with that?” he murmured in a voice loud

enough to hear but low enough that it sounded like a caress to her ears. “That’s the line that got us here in the first place.” She rolled over like she was going to see his face, but she was met with only darkness. “I have a confession.” “What is it?” She was already turned toward him, so she just stayed that way, but her heart was beating fast. What was he going to tell her? That he had lied and he was married with children and a dog? That he was just making her feel good when he’d met her on her vacation? That the real reason he hadn’t wanted her cell

phone number was because she was just a mercy fuck? “I don’t know what you’re thinking, but it’s so loud. Just give me a minute to get to it. Okay?” She nodded but deep down she didn’t feel any better. “When we met and you spilled your drink on me?” He waited a few seconds before he said anything else, and she knew that if he knew how crazy it was making her when he drew this story out he wouldn’t do it like this, but she stayed silent as long as she could.

“Yes.” Emmy was so anxious about what was going to come out of his mouth she could almost cry. “I’d seen you get off the plane, and I’d followed you. You were beautiful and you were trying to juggle all the items you had in your hand. I didn’t know why you didn’t just put that pink piece of paper in your purse, but you were determined to carry your purse, your carryon bag, drag your big suitcase, and hold your large beverage in your hand. My goal was to talk to you as I helped you with some of your things, and I thought maybe we could have hung out later.”

“You’re saying that you saw me before I saw you?” Could that be true? “Our eyes met when you got off the plane, but then it seemed like you were running away from me. It didn’t seem like it was possible that was happening, but it took some fancy footwork to catch up with you.” He turned his face toward hers; she could tell by the way his voice sounded closer. “Modest aren’t we?” She was enjoying this story now that she knew it wasn’t as bad as she’d imagined. It was fun to tease and play with him, and he was always such a good sport about it.

“I’m a pretty modest guy. Yes.” “So modest you couldn’t believe a woman would turn the other way and run from you?” She couldn’t help but tease him, as she’d never heard him be anything other than modest so this was funny to her. “Usually women don’t run from me, but the connection I felt when we looked at each other was something that hadn’t ever happened to me before. The whole ‘Their eyes met from across a crowded room’ always seemed like horse shit to me, but I must admit there is something to be said about it.” He brought his hand up to her mouth and stroked her bottom

lip until she had his thumb sucked into her mouth. “I did feel the connection, too, but, get ready to use your modestly, you were the best looking man I’d ever seen and I was fresh out of college and on my first solo vacation. I thought you were way out of my league.” That didn’t feel good to say, so she unzipped his pants and pulled out his thick hard member, as she prepared to fill her mouth the taste of his cock. When she moved to get further down on him, he stopped her. “You know, you like to hide behind

things sometimes.” Matt stopped her from going down any further. She huffed out a harsh breath and knew she was going to have to finish this conversation. “Like what?” “Like how you ran away from home. I’m not saying you shouldn’t have done it, because then I’d never have met you. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t have a vacation alone if you didn’t want to, but I am saying that you left to prove a point. You’ve got to be scaring the crap out of all of them.” “How did you come up with that?” She wanted to know where his mind was and

what he was really saying. “Because I care for you, Emmy, but you make it so damn hard. I know how you think and I understand it. You should probably make sure your family knows why you’re upset. I also think that your aunt didn’t want you to know about her death until you finished school. Of course, I don’t know that, but you should probably talk to them about why you left and how things need to change so you can go back to them on terms you like.” He seemed to be working hard to get her to understand what he was saying. She knew what he was saying, but all she heard was, “I don’t want you here

and you should fix it all up with your family.” Turning away from him so she was on her back, she kept her hands to herself. She was right about the way she was thinking before. She just kept setting herself up to get hurt. The noise outside the window made her think about why she started this thing in the first place. Emmy had feelings for Matt. She wanted to be with him; she wanted to sleep with him; and she wanted to fuck him. This wasn’t about how he was going to handle the aftermath of this situation. It wasn’t about her wanting him to claim her. This was about what she wanted. Rolling on top of him was easy in the

dark. It was empowering. She rocked on his cock a few times before he responded. She wasn’t sure what that was about, and she wished that she could see his face. Not only was that a turn on for her, but she could have a better handle on how he was feeling. He reached up and grabbed both of her breasts in his hands, massaging them through her clothes, and she worked her hips harder and fasted on his shaft. This was the most fun she’d had with him while they were both dressed. The wind seemed to be getting louder, but she couldn’t find it in her to care. In her mind, it was just she and Matt in this

room and the rest of the world could have stopped. “Matt. I need you.” She didn’t like sounding so needy, but at that moment that was exactly what she was. Needy. She needed to feel like she was a part of something; she needed an anchor to hold onto; and she needed to feel like everything was going to be alright soon. She had on jeans, so she got up and took them off, and she could hear that he was getting rid of clothes as well. Emmy got back on top of him as soon as she heard the rustling of his clothes stop.

“What are you doing, Emmy?” The husky sound of his voice ratcheted up her libido, which was already high every time they were together. However, with the wildness of the weather, she was just perched on edge. “I know all of the things I said about trying to keep myself together and not wanting to be on a up and down rollercoaster with you, but at the end of the day. I want you. If this is all I can have and now is our time, then I’m willing to take it. No regrets. When I sat in my room last night and thought that you’d run off with Carolyn, I still couldn’t make myself think it would have been better if we’d never met.” She

was never so glad that he couldn’t see her face and she couldn’t see his. It was what she wanted to say, but she didn’t think she’d be brave enough to say it to his face. “We just keep getting thrown together. Maybe it’s a sign.” Matt was moving Emmy’s hips so that her wet pussy was opened over his cock and the sensation was electric. If it weren’t for the storm outside that she knew could be deadly she’d say this was the best experience she’d ever had. She felt like there was an extra connection between them, and it made her feel excited and free. This was probably the reason why people had sex in the midst of trials and tribulations. It

put you in a totally different frame of mind. “Are you ready, Emmy?” Matt asked, and she wondered what he was asking about. They were both naked and she was sliding all over his cock like a slip and slide. What else could she could do to show she was ready? “I’m always ready for your cock. No matter what I was thinking in my head or feeling in my heart I wanted you. I didn’t want to be around you because I know our chemistry is too strong. I love your hands on me. It’s like a drug. I want more and more of it.” Again she was learning more about herself. This time

she was letting her experience how freeing it was to be in the dark. Who knew what kinds of secrets she would expose if they stayed in the dark? He turned to his phone and flipped on a switch that illuminated the room. It was funny how one little light on a phone could produce so much light. “That’s what I wanted to see,” Matt said with a smile on his face. “What?” She loved to see his face, but now that she looked at him she was almost bashful. There went the full enclosure portion of the day… or maybe she could learn from this as well. Saying

what you wanted to say when you wanted to say it. Speak your truth. She’d see how it went. “I love the expression on your face when you’re ready to be fucked. Makes my cock just that much harder. There are so many things that I want to do to you. Sitting in my room for the few hours I was granted was torture. When you talked about regrets, I understood exactly what you meant. We need to come up with something because there is something pulling us together, but right now I want to bury myself so deep in your body you won’t know where you end and I begin.”

“Show me,” she said, and she knew the look on her face showed him how ready she was because she saw the responding look on his face, like it was a mirror image.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Something was going to have to be done because this woman was more than an accessory. He’d done his best to put her out of his mind and life, but she just kept getting thrown back in, and he didn’t think he was strong enough to let her go again. Her words were like a red flag to a bull —because now that he’d made up his mind to give her the choice to stay or go it was like an extra twist in his balls. He loved the way she smelled and the way her innocently sweet face twisted into a wicked smirk when she thought she did something that turned him on.

He pulled her hair, making her arch backwards and causing her breasts to thrust toward him. “Do it,” Emmy said with a groan. “What, baby?” He knew what she wanted, but it was always better when she asked for it. “Bite me. Hard.” She let a whimper accompany that request, and he knew she was trying to kill him. They’d not gotten any further than her grinding her sweet pussy all over his cock, but they were both on the edge of madness.

He lifted his head to reach one of her hardened nipples and sucked it hard into his mouth before putting his teeth to it. “Ahhh,” she said with a loud throaty exclamation. The rain outside was harder and the sound of things being thrown against the building was more frequent. He didn’t want to scare her, but the island was in a lot of trouble, and there was nothing anyone could do until the storm passed. She slid her hand down her body and inserted his cock inside her dripping entrance, and it was like someone flipped his switch. He was fucking into her like he needed it to breathe, and in

fact, that was exactly how he felt. If he didn’t come and get her to come, he didn’t know what to do. The bed didn’t squeak and that was a good thing because he was powering into her body time and time again. Faster and faster he pounded into her, but it wasn’t enough. Flipping her on the bed so he could get more leverage to give them what they both wanted was what he thought was best. She put her hand on the back of his neck and brought him down to her other nipple that was just as hard as the first but lonely and dry. “Do you want me to bite that one, too?”

he asked, rubbing his nose and lips over the bud but not giving her what she wanted. She didn’t answer with her words just a nod of her head. He loved to hear her voice and thought about making her answer him with words, but the frantic sounds she was making were spurring him on to a fast finish. Bending down he bit down on her neck, loving the fresh fragrant skin that was soft and sweet, but she moved him down to where she wanted him. “Here, Matt. Please.” She sounded like she was living on the edge of her orgasm, and he loved to be the one to give it to her. He pumped hard and

sucked harder until she screamed out loud enough to be heard over the chaos that was going on outside their window. Her body clamped down on his cock like a sweet sexy vice, and it was hard to let her finish, but he didn’t want to come without her because he could feel that this was going to be a big one. Right when he knew she was about finish, he gave himself permission to unload the power orgasm that he had been working on since the last time he was in her body. “Let me see it,” she said, as she tried to catch her breath, but he was at a total loss about what she wanted. What he did know is she’d better explain because he was seconds away from his own

personal fireworks. “Tell me what you want.” He was getting used to losing control when he was with this woman, but he didn’t like to hear his voice sound like that. It was like his hips were pistons that were moving of their own accord. He’d wanted to slow down to find out what she wanted from him. Unfortunately, his body didn’t want to comply. “I want you to come on my tits.” Breathless is how she sounded and how that one sentence made him feel. That request was almost too much for him to hear. Even with as much sex as

they’d had since they’d met, she kept surprising him. If she wanted him to do that she was going to have to let him go. He enjoyed how she liked to hold him to her when she was finished, but he broke away from her hold, as he slipped his throbbing hard cock out of her body. The wet sound of the slickness that had come from her body made the sexiest noise, as he jacked his cock harder and faster to give her the result she wanted. “I love to watch you stroke your cock. That you’re doing it for me… because I asked is even hotter. Let me hear you come for me… just for me Matt. Show me what my pussy does for you.”

Matt felt like his skin was a few sizes too tight and there was just too much stimulation. Where the hell did she get that mouth? It was killing him because he loved listening to hot, dirty words come out of a mouth that was attached to the sweetest girl he’d ever met. He either needed less or just a little more, but his mind wasn’t working to help him find a solution. When Emmy reached up and pinched his nipple while she tugged on his balls, his cock erupted like a volcano. The glow from his phone allowed him to watch jet after jet of his seed land on her skin. It was even more arousing because she now had to wear his scent everywhere she’d go for an

unknown amount of time. He kneeled over her, as he caught his breath and waited to hear what she was going to say about this. He was shocked again when she rubbed his fluids into her skin, like it was a thick creamy lotion she’d bought from some department store. “Did you like that?” he asked her while he looked at her cat who ate the cream face. “Yes.” She couldn’t hold back the smirk on her face, and he thought it was a well-deserved look. Emmy had done things that he didn’t think could be done.

He’d been with women who thought they were at the top of their craft, but no one had brought him down to his base needs like her. His heart almost stopped when a loud crash sounded like a car had hit the side of the building. Emmy squealed and the sexy moment was gone. The storm had to be in full force now, and there was nothing they could do but wait. “I love you, Emmy. I know it’s been a short time, and I know there are a lot of obstacles, but if we make it out of this I want to try to see if we can make this work.”

She looked at him but then picked up his phone so she could see him better. “Say that again,” she said, looking deep at his face like there was going to be a change in what he said or how he said it. “I love you, Emmy, and I’m sorry that I tried to make decisions for you that we should have discussed together.” He kissed her forehead and then wondered if maybe they should put some clothes on. If anything happened he was going to need to help out, and she would need to be with the other civilians. “Do you really mean that? I hate to ask you so many times, but I was beginning to feel like I was all alone in this. Not

the sex. We’re good at that, but you were just able to flip your emotions on and off with not a thought of us. You walked away yesterday without even my cell phone number, and it really hurt. Today, I was willing to take sex from you because it’s so good and because I’ve never regretted being with you like that, but I was more afraid of what’s going to happen to you when all this is over.” That’s what he’d been trying to tell her. The life of a military partner wasn’t always a good one, and if nothing else, loneliness topped their charts. It wasn’t something that he wanted for her, but it was something they would talk about. How to make this work? Could they

make this work? Why should they try to make this work? Those were the questions he wanted answered, but the main question was… Would they live through the night? “Let’s get dressed in case either of us has to make a quick retreat.” He was sorry to break up their little party, but he hoped there would be time later when they both survived this ordeal. Until then, they would have to be happy with what they had. They were dressed and in the bed when his emergency walkie-talkie went off. “Everyone just stay where you are. It’s about to get bad.” The tinny sound of

the little machine made him wonder about who was talking on it and where the hell they were. “About to?” Emmy said from his side. He brought her to the inside wall and covered her with his body. It was all he had, and he’d give it to her. The winds were shaking the cement building, and Matt wondered if it would crack and crumble around them. “When I knew that you’d seen my list, my first thought was how embarrassed I was, but you didn’t let me know about it until later, so I thought I’d gotten away with some master heist.” Emmy’s voice

was low, and he was concentrating on her words. It was amazing how just that one thing had him calm and focused. “I wanted to be the stranger whom you had your one-night stand with. From the moment I fingered you at the restaurant and heard your sweet moans, I knew it would be hard to let you go. I started that night trying to let you have the independence you said you were looking for. I’d kicked off your list and you were on your way.” “What brought you back?” she asked, as her fingers stroked him comfortingly. It wasn’t lost on him that they were both trying to bring comfort to each other in a

very uncomfortable situation. “I watched you try to gather your courage to take off that robe while you were on the boardwalk. The area you were heading towards wasn’t even heavily populated, but I wanted to make sure you had done another thing on your list. I knew you weren’t the type of woman who would have liked the, ‘You look beautiful. Just go out there and strut your stuff’ angle, so I tried to get your competitive spirit going.” “I’m not competitive.” She practically sat up, but he made her lay back down, and then he turned off the light on his phone, thinking they may need it later.

“You are one of the most competitive people I know. The fact that you don’t think so means that it’s so deeply ingrained in you it’s hard for you to see. I’m not asking you to change it. I’m just saying that I saw it… probably because competition is my spirit animal, too.” “Thank you for helping me with my list.” She turned around in his arms so that they were no longer spooning, but she was nestled into his chest. He wasn’t ever able to fully turn off the hyperawareness of the turmoil going on outside, but he was able to be comfortable, and he was able to comfort.

“I’m glad you wrote list so I’d have a chance to woo you with your own words. That was pretty convenient.” “I’m not going to lie to you, Matt. I don’t know if we are going to make it out of here alive, but if we do, you may never get rid of me.” She snuggled into him even harder, and he took comfort in her words and touch. “I don’t think I’ve ever pushed anyone the way I pushed you—unless I count myself, but that stops right now. Today. If we get out of this, I don’t think I’ll ever let you go.” He hugged her tight in his arms.

There was a sound so loud it seemed to be right in his head. The wind blew around the room, and it was like he was fading into a fog. “Matt… Matt…. MATT!!” He knew that was Emmy’s voice, but it seemed to be fading fast. Matt wanted to tell her to go and get help but nothing was working. His mouth wouldn’t move and neither would his body. Run, Emmy. His mind felt like it was flooded until the peace and calm ran over his body and mind—like water.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Lieutenant Commander Matt Perrier had seen better days, or at least he felt like he had. He opened his eyes and felt like he must have gone on a major bender if the pounding in his head and the soreness of his body was any indication. The room was dim, but there was enough light to see that he wasn’t in any bedroom that he remembered. Turning his head a little to the left, he could see that there was a woman asleep on the bed. She wasn’t laying in the bed but rather sitting in a chair at his bedside and bent over so that her head lay by his hand. What the hell is going on?

Looking around the rest of the room, he saw that this wasn’t any hotel or base housing… he was in a hospital. There was a pole with a machine that looked like it had a bag of some liquid running through it to a long tube that was connected to his arm, and there were all types of other wires that were connected to his body in different spots that led up to a machine that had his vital signs on it…blood pressure, respirations, temperature, and pulse. He knew a bit about the medical field, so he knew that at least his readings were within normal limits. What had happened? He closed his eyes and tried to think about it, but nothing

came to him, but what was worse was that it was painful to even search for that memory. He remembered getting on a plane to vacation in Hawaii, but after that, there was nothing. Maybe the woman by the bed knew something. He turned his attention to her and was transfixed on the long dark hair that was on the bed. Her position didn’t look comfortable, but she was definitely sleeping. The desire to touch her was stronger than he’d ever had with a stranger, but somehow he just felt like it was something he could do. Turning his hand over he let the silky strands flow through his fingers, attempting to catch the softness between his fingers, and her head popped up like he’d pushed a

button. Her eyes were wild, like she was confused, but the brightness of her smile made him want to smile too…if he didn’t hurt so damn bad. “Matt? You’re awake?” The woman jumped up and threw herself on the bed… kissing his face and hugging him. She smelled awesome, and he appreciated her joy over the fact that he was awake, but he thought he’d stay quiet while he figured out who she was. Have I been captured somewhere by the enemy? She seemed too friendly to be a prison guard, but who knew? The enemy did all kinds of weird things. “Do you need anything?” she asked

while looking all around, but then, like she remembered something, she stopped short. “Let me get the nurse.” He caught her hand before she could sprint off. “Where am I?” “In the hospital.” The look of relief and endearment on her face made him wonder again where he knew her from or if she was just a really good actress. “We were in a back room of an evacuation facility when something hit the wall and it crumbled. You were hit in the back with a piece of concrete, and they think the whiplash made your brain swell up a bit. The doctors are amazed

that you didn’t have more damage, but you have been unconscious for two days.” She snuggled back into him with a hug that was about to make his cock hard as stone, but he cleared his throat and prepared to get some answers before this woman left to get reinforcements. “Are you my nurse?” That was a direct question, and he expected a direct answer. “Oh… you want to play that way?” She went to pull the curtain around the bed, and when she returned, she had a look he was very familiar with…the naughty girl look. It was complete with a smirk and her removing her panties. She had on a

loose-fitting blouse with elastic around the neck line and a long skirt. The whole ensemble looked fairly comfortable, but when he looked at it another way it was easy access as well. She didn’t look like an easy access woman, but he’d not turn her away. He didn’t plan on saying anything to encourage or discourage the beautiful woman with the long dark hair and body like a 1950s pinup model. “It’s a good thing you woke up in the middle of the night. There is no way we’d be able to get away with this in the daytime.” She hiked up her skirt, and he couldn’t control how hard his cock throbbed when she saw her thick thighs spread. “I’m not sure what we can do

with you, because you’ve not been cleared, and I’d hate to do something that would damage you.” “Sit on the chair and let me watch you play with your pussy.” He was fascinated by this woman who looked like butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth but sat in the chair next to him with her legs open and her glistening juices wetting her tasty looking pink parts as she did as he requested. Matt still didn’t know who she was, but that wasn’t going to stop him from having this fun with her, especially since she was so game to please. “Like this?” Her voice was breathy, like

she was already turned on. Maybe it was her kink to get off with patients, or she felt like she was doing her good deed for the day. His dick was thoroughly enjoying the show, and if he wasn’t tied up to all this shit, he’d definitely would have requested something a bit more hands on. “Rub your clit a little before you sink those two fingers inside and pull down your top. It looks like you’re hiding a nice set of tits that I can’t wait to see.” Her breath hitched, and his hand moved down to his cock to adjust himself. However, he found his hand wrapped around his cock and the tempo of his

stroke matching the rhythm of her movements. “I was right. Those tits are awesome, but they look like they need to be bitten or sucked really hard.” Why he thought it was okay to talk to this innocent-looking woman like this, he wasn’t sure, but she wasn’t complaining so he’d keep going. “Yes, please.” Her voice wasn’t as strong as it had been, and he was proud that he’d been able to get her this excited with nothing more than the words of his mouth. “Pull on your nipples.” He was enjoying giving her orders and wondered when

she’d get up and tell him to fuck off. It didn’t appear that the dismissive words he was waiting for were going to happen. She again did as he instructed, and he stroked faster and faster. It was like he’d not had sex in a year. He was so ready to explode it was almost like his legs spread a bit on their own accord, like his body knew he needed a bit of room to work his cock. He could feel his balls bouncing until they got tight and felt full. “It doesn’t look like you’re going to last, Sexy. Why don’t you come for me?” he said in a voice that sounded rusty even to his ears. He knew they couldn’t be

loud, and for some reason, he thought this woman would be a screamer. Matt wasn’t sure what to do in this situation, but what he did know is that it didn’t matter who pulled back that curtain, he was going to blow his wad in the next few minutes. She bit down on her lip, and it was one of the sexiest things he’d ever seen. There was a flash of something that ran across his mind. An elusive thought that was so quick that he’d missed it. Did it have something to do with this woman? He thought so. It had something to do with watching her ride her fingers like it was something she did often and her full breasts swaying with each wave of

release. Watching her come from her selfstimulation was more thrilling than he’d imagined. It wasn’t like he’d never seen a woman stroke off for him, but with this woman, it set off something in him he wasn’t sure he recognized. She got up from the seat and stood by the bed. Matt was ready to come, but he felt a bit vulnerable here in this bed with no weapon at his disposal. The look on her face helped him calm down a little, but years of being wary and reading people told him it could be a trick, as he still didn’t know who she was. Her face was flushed, and she was still

trying to catch her breath, but she looked like she was planning to do something. What? He didn’t know. “I know you missed this.” She put her wet fingers in his mouth and her flavor burst on his tongue like he’d licked her pussy himself. The woman sawed her fingers in and out of his mouth, and he couldn’t contain the deep moan that came from him. Whoever she was, she knew him well and had quite a bit of moxie to presume that he’d want this. He must be a dirty fucker because he loved it. That gesture coupled with the swinging tits that swayed every time she moved was so hot he couldn’t stop the eruption of semen that was rushing to

squirt out. He closed his eyes and let it go, but not before he felt the soft warm lips of this beautiful woman close around the head of his cock. The orgasm seemed to go on forever, but before the aftershocks were complete, he could feel the cool air where her mouth was as she pulled down his gown and brought his blankets up. “Is everything all right in here?” A small woman in blue scrubs came rushing in with her stethoscope like a blur. “Matt’s awake. He’s only been up for a few minutes.” The woman whose lips were still wet from sucking his cock seemed nervous. Why would that be?

Was she not supposed to be in there? Was she just going around the hospital spreading her type of cheer? “You should have told us he woke up the minute it happened. His heart rate spiked and so did his respirations.” The look the nurse was giving his playmate was making him upset. Maybe she should have tried to get help, he thought. Then, he remembered that she had, but he’d held her back to get more information. “It’s okay,” he said trying to help out. “She was trying to get help, but I stopped her with questions.” The nurse turned to him with a big smile.

“Well, as long as nothing was harmed I guess it’s alright. I’m going to call the doctor and tell him you’re awake. The place is going to go crazy, Lieutenant Commander Perrier.” “What the hell happened?” Matt wondered out loud. It was like everyone knew something that he didn’t, and it was beginning to bother him. “There were a lot of people wounded when the side of the building gave way. You were protecting me with your body so I didn’t get hurt. The only way they’d let me in here is because I told them I had some medical experience and could help out.” She looked at him like he

should know her. However, it didn’t matter how much he tried to search for the memory that would get them out of this awkward position, it just wasn’t working. The longer he stared at her the larger her smile was, and he wasn’t sure why she was doing that either. It was time to cut to the chase and get what needed to be said out of the way. “Who are you exactly?” There was no way to say that nicely, and his head was bothering him too much to attempt to be more tactful. Her smile faltered, and she slowly straightened up and took a step back from the bed. “What do you mean?” She

seemed to stand up a bit taller as she clarified, “I’m the woman who’s been with you for the last week and a half. We met in Hawaii, and we’ve been inseparable ever since.” “Sweetheart, that doesn’t sound like the me I know.” He didn’t want to call her a liar, but this story wasn’t anything he remembered, and he tried long and hard to keep people… especially woman away from him and his lifestyle. His job was dangerous, and he didn’t invite anyone into the world where he may not return. His father had left his mother when he was five years old, and that wasn’t anything he planned on doing to another person.

“You’re right. It isn’t. You found a note about the kinds of things I wanted to do while I was on vacation, and the first thing on my list was to sleep with a stranger. You fulfilled that wish, and then we ended up having so much fun we just kinda stuck together.” He watched her become more and more animated when she was trying to tell her story, and that told him that at least she thought she was telling the truth, but he couldn’t be sure. She grabbed her chest like she had just come to an important realization. “You don’t remember me… do you?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t remember you at all.” The nurse and her group of workers came in and escorted the woman who’d just brought him so much pleasure out the door. She still had the look of shock on her face, and it was almost painful to watch. He didn’t know what was going on between him and the beautiful woman, but he was going to find out.

CHAPTER NINETEEN He didn’t remember her. Emily “Emmy” Roth couldn’t remember ever being so shocked and surprised in her life. She’d just pulled up her skirt and had an orgasm for a man who didn’t know who in the hell she was. It should have been par with the have sex with a stranger, but for some reason it wasn’t. Did Matt think she was a slut or that she was just a person who liked men in the hospital? It hadn’t taken that long for them to scoot her out the door, but she planned on getting back in there as soon as possible. She wanted nothing more than for him to clear the cobwebs away

so that he could be back to the smart, witty, funny man he was before all of this. Her mind was blown, and she couldn’t do anything with the swirl of emotions that were beating her up inside. She was elated that he was awake, proud that he found her attractive, and humiliated that she’d done such scandalous things with a man who didn’t know her. Well, he did know her, but he didn’t remember knowing her. What must he think of her? Maybe he thought she was a prostitute… but she didn’t take any money. Maybe he thought she was a dumb prostitute. Her mind was going in too many different directions. Her head hurt and she felt

like she could have thrown up if there was anything on her stomach, which there wasn’t. She walked to the lobby and watched all the people going here and there. People who probably had a right to be there. There were rows of chairs, and she figured that she’d sit and wait, but not before she told the woman at the front desk to let her know when she could go back in with Matt. “Excuse me,” Emmy said to the woman who looked like she was busy with papers and other things. “Yes, dear.” The woman set aside her

papers and gave her full attention to Emmy. “I was in with Matt Perrier and they are looking at him now. Could you tell me when they are done with him so I can go back?” Emmy was encouraged that the woman had a sunny smile on and she thought that she’d be helpful. “Are you family?” Katie was the name written on the woman’s badge. “No, but I was brought in with him, and I’ve been helping take care of him.” “Oh.” Katie didn’t look like that was something she was familiar with. “Let

me talk to the charge nurse and I’ll see what we can do. For now take a seat over there in the waiting room and I’ll get someone to get back to you.” “Alright, thank you,” Emmy gave her the biggest smile she could muster, but it was probably more like a grimace. This is the reason she never left his room. She’d known the rules of the hospital, but she figured that most of the people just let her stay in there because she had always been there. The case worker had been in to see her a few times, and she’d talked to him about Matt. She’d talked to him about her plight, and he said that there was no

problem with her being there and that he would vouch for her, but she’d not seen him in a good long while. When she looked for him, she’d been told that he had to leave for an emergency and would be back next week. Emmy had wondered what would have happened if they didn’t believe she was who she said she was, but now it looked like she didn’t even have the case manager there to vouch for her. The thought of just walking away from him caused her stomach to knot up and she feared she was going to be sick. Not that anything would have come up because she’d not eaten much of anything. She decided that she would just see how this played out, but there was no way she was going

anywhere unless Matt specifically told her to get lost. That would hurt, but the man had saved her life more than once, and she would do as he asked, but she prayed that he’d not ask that of her. There was too much that had just gone on, and her body felt like it was going to shut down. Who would notice if she just disappeared for a few minutes? She did her best thinking when she was asleep, so maybe the answer would just come to her. Her eyes felt so heavy; it was like there was too much going on inside her brain and it needed to shut down. She’d close them for a quick second, but then she was going to ask the slim dynamo at the front desk what was going on; she

needed a little rest so she could put up a fight if she had to. *** “Hey?” There was a soft female voice talking, and for a second, Emmy wondered if she was home in her bed with one of her brother’s girlfriends trying to wake her up. She sunk back into sleep maybe the person would just go away. Emmy felt someone shaking her a little and she startled. Squinting up into the bright lights of the hospital lobby, she looked at her watch to see what time it was…nine in the morning. How in the

world had she slept that long? Looking at the woman who was standing over her, she now knew why she thought about her brother’s girlfriends, but this woman looked a bit older than they would have been. She almost looked familiar with her pretty blue eyes and light brown hair, but the strange look on this woman’s face threw her off. “Are you the woman who was helping Matt?” A pretty woman who was probably in her fifties was asking the question, but Emmy’s mouth was so dry that she didn’t think she’d be able to answer so she just nodded. “I’ll get her a drink of water.” There

was the voice of another woman that Emmy hadn’t seen before she talked about the water, but that woman had already walked away by the time she’d straightened up in her chair, but she returned fairly quickly. Emmy knew she had to look as crazy as she sounded gulping down that water, but for some reason, it was like she was dehydrated like never before. “Thank you,” Emmy said to the pair when she was through. They were both beautiful women, and the looks on their faces seemed like pity. “Yes. I’m the woman who was helping Matt.” “Well, that’s very nice of you, but now

that we’re here we can take over his care. It’s so good to know that strangers will step in to help with there is a disaster.” The older woman said with a thankful look on her face. “Oh, well, you’re right. There are a lot of people that step in, but I’m Matt’s girlfriend.” Emmy watched the women look at each other in a way that told her a few things one that they didn’t believe her and two they’d heard similar claims before. “Matt doesn’t really do ‘girlfriends,’” said the beautiful red-haired woman who looked like she’d stepped off the pages of a high-end magazine. “I’ve

known him all my life, and although there have been several women who thought they had that title, they were mistaken. He’s more of a fun-for-now type of guy.” Emmy was about to be dismissed, and it felt like she was Alice and had fallen down the rabbit hole. “Who are you, exactly?” she asked, hoping that these two women weren’t in charge of anything, but she had a feeling she was going to be given the bums rush out of there. “I’m Matt’s mother, and this is one of his best friends, Candy. They called and told us that he’d been hurt, but his girlfriend

was by his side. I was on my way to make sure he was alright and find out who the woman was who was claiming him now.” His mother had a smile on her face, but she didn’t look like she wanted to play any games when her son was involved. “I know that he doesn’t like to get involved because he is aware of the danger of his job and doesn’t want to leave someone the way you and he were left by his father. We spent time together in Hawaii and ended up here when I had a layover, and then the military was forced to house us, and he made sure I got the medication I needed. I’m not saying we were going to get married but

I thought we were going to work on it.” “We went in to see Matt as soon as we got here and heard all about how helpful you were with him, but when we asked him about you, he didn’t even know your name.” Matt’s friend Candy said, looking at Emmy with a sad expression. The woman probably did this often. Softening the blow to women who got the wrong idea in their head, but that wasn’t the case with her. “I’d like to talk to him.” Emmy wasn’t going to try to talk to them about this; she could tell they were trying to get her to go.

“We talked to the doctor, and they say he is having some short-term memory loss. He shouldn’t be pushed to remember anything right now. They are hopeful that this won’t last long, so we are hoping that you will just disappear quietly. If he wants to see you he’ll give you a call.” The mother was standing and gave a look to Candy, apparently letting her know they were done here. “Please don’t bother us as we try to get Matt back to his regular self. We know that you did a lot to get him to this point, and we appreciate you sitting with him so he wasn’t alone.” “If I could just—” Emmy felt like she was being railroaded, but there wasn’t

anything she could do. It was enough that they’d let her stay there as long as they had—with her not being family. However, now that his real family had shown up, she was out on her ass. “Don’t make this harder than it has to be. We’ve said thank you and you got whatever you got from playing nursemaid to my son, but it ends here and now.” The woman looked impatient to get back to her son, and Emmy knew the feeling. Candy followed along behind Matt’s mother, and Emmy followed the movements of both of the woman until the door closed silently behind them.

Emmy was exhausted. It probably wasn’t good that she’d gotten released from the hospital and then went straight to Matt’s bedside. She was hungry and tired but it was like her body didn’t want any food until she found out that Matt was going to be alright. Now he was going to be fine, but since he didn’t remember her and his family wanted her to leave them alone, she just sat there in the lobby of the intensive care unit like a used rag… limp, dirty, and discarded. She’d left a few of her things in the room before she’d gotten kicked out and needed them if she was going to get going. Too tired to figure out her next move, she knew that she needed a good

night’s sleep and a hot meal. Standing up from the seat she’d been in for the last few hours, her body felt like she’d been in a fight and in some ways she had been. Walking over to the woman who sat at the desk, she couldn’t help but notice the look of pity on her face. This wasn’t going well. It wasn’t the same woman who was there earlier either. “I’m sorry, but is there any way you could get my purse and jacket from Matt Perrier’s room?” If she didn’t need it, she probably would have just let them keep it, but it was all she had in the world right now. She couldn’t even call

anyone to get more money without her phone. “I’ll let you back to get your things.” The woman smiled, and she was grateful that she was allowed to do that, but she didn’t think the family would have appreciated that. Emmy guessed the nurse didn’t hear the conversation, and it was a bit humiliating, but she was going to have to tell her why she couldn’t go back. “The family doesn’t want me to see Matt because he has some short-term memory loss and they don’t want me to upset him. Is it possible for you to go back or

have someone collect my things?” The look of pity intensified, and it made Emmy want to sink into the floor, but she stood there with her back straight and her head high. She’d done as much as she was going to be able to do for the moment. They kept being thrown together so maybe something would happen that would make it happen again. “I’ll call back to the room and see if the family will bring it out.” The woman looked like she didn’t know what to do in this situation, but Emmy couldn’t help her because she had no idea of what to do either.

That wasn’t what she wanted to happen, but she didn’t have a voice here so she’d take what she could get. What she wanted was to see Matt again. She had been there to watch him sleep restlessly —and then restfully—but she’d not been there to see much of him when he woke up. After a few moments, the door opened, and the beautiful Candy stepped out the door, but she was empty handed. What? Are they not going to give me the things I came in with? The look on her face was apologetic and guilt ridden. What else could she possibly go through today? It was like she was stuck in a bad dream or a crazy movie that just got

worse and worse. “I know Marcia can get a bit highhanded when she’s talking about her son. It was only the two of them for a long time, and she’d very leery about new people getting close to Matt.” Candy had on a smile that looked like she really wanted her to understand what everyone was going through, and while she was normally a very understanding, it had been an unusually trying day. No one looked like they were thinking about her. She had been on a pleasure trip with the hottest man she’d ever met who treated her like a love goddess, and now he didn’t even remember who she was… she was going to be kicked out of his

life, and it was looking a bit sketchy on whether she was going to get her things returned to her. Emmy didn’t know how to respond to what Candy was saying, especially since she kind of got lost in her own world of misery, but she vowed to pay more attention to what the woman was trying to say. “It’s hard to walk away, but I have no leg to stand on, and he doesn’t even know who I am. I’m also really hungry and tired so I don’t have the mental ammunition to argue my case. I’m sure it was hard to see someone she didn’t know claim to care for her son. I’d like

to stay around to see that he’s okay. He saved my life by sheltering me with his body.” “Always the hero,” Candy said with a smirk. “Well, I don’t know what to tell you about Marcia; she’s a tough nut to crack, but I will say that Matt isn’t giving your purse to anyone but you. That man knows how to raise hell when he wants something, and at this moment, that something is you.” Emmy was so happy that she was holding back tears. She wasn’t sure what side of the battle line Candy stood, but for now, she’d just be happy to be led back into the room with her stuff and the

lover who didn’t know who in the hell she was. “It’s been tough for you, too, I know. Thanks for sticking around for Matt. This place is a mad house. You’ve taken such good care of him; people don’t come around to help him out much. That’s a good thing, but also a bad thing because Marcia and I don’t know anything medical and the wires and tubes are a little intimidating.” Candy had her hand on Emmy’s back, and she guided her back to the room. “Here we are.” Matt looked a bit panicked, and Emmy couldn’t remember ever seeing that look on his face. “There you are… where did

you go?” Matt’s mother watched her warily, and it was like the woman was afraid that her ‘get the fuck out of here’ speech would be repeated to her son. Emmy may have been tired, hungry, and rundown, but she wasn’t that type of person. “I think they were just sorting out who could be here and who couldn’t. It’s supposed to be family only—so now that your family is here they may not let me back as much as they did before.” Emmy tried not to throw anyone under the bus, but she did want him to know that if she wasn’t in the room it wasn’t because she didn’t want to be.

Matt appeared to think about this. His eyes closed, and he frowned like he was trying to find something that he’d lost. “Honey, you shouldn’t be trying to think so hard. The doctor said that your memory should come back soon. Do you want me to give this woman back her things so she can get going?” Marcia sounded hopeful even though she was trying make herself sound harmless. “I’d like her to stay. She was telling me about our trip to Hawaii, and I’d like to hear more.” He put his hand out towards Emmy, and she moved closer but was a bit skeptical about grabbing onto his

hand. The mother looked a bit rabid, and she’d hate for the woman to snap. “She could tell you anything, Matt. You don’t remember what happened.” His mother took a step toward the bed. The look he gave her shut her right down. He may not have known what had happened in the last few weeks, but he seemed to still be in charge of himself and his surroundings. “I believe what she has told me so far, and there is no reason that she would lie. What is she gaining? She’s here of her own volition and hasn’t been rewarded with money or gifts. She looks tired, and from what I’ve heard, she was wiping me down and

turning me so often the nurses just let her run with my care.” He reached out further and pulled Emmy toward him before he folded her hand in his and patted it. He must really be observant, or maybe he just knew his mother. Emmy had been rung out, but she wasn’t going to let these people see it. She was just trying to hold her own against these people who had some ill thoughts about her for some reason. “They told me they were giving me base housing for a while since I’m good enough to go home tomorrow, but they want to watch my progress. The house is

ready with rations and furniture. How about you go there to get some rest tonight, and you can come back in the morning.” Matt said looking at her, even though they could both hear his mother fighting to keep her words back. “If it’s going to make your mother uncomfortable, I have no problem going to a hotel. I’ll come back tomorrow and help get you settled.” Emmy looked at the mother and saw her one eyebrow cock up like she was still skeptical. “Is that acceptable to you?” “Whether it’s acceptable to her or not, I’d rather you do it the way I asked. There is no need to find housing when

you can stay with me. I want to hear about us and what was going on at the time of the accident, but I don’t want you to wear yourself out further. I also don’t want my mother to harass you.” He looked toward his mother. “Is that clear?” “Crystal,” his mother sang in a voice that probably didn’t match how she was feeling. “Great. Since we’re all in agreement on what should happen, how about I call the car to take you over to the apartment? There are the keys to the place, and the driver will show you where it is.” He pointed at the keys, and she picked them

up. “I’ll need my purse,” she said to him when she noticed that he had it in a vise hold. That got a smile out of him, and she was almost surprised at how much she missed it. “I figured that you’d need this. They weren’t letting you come back, but I figured you’d have to get this, and when you did, you’d have to see me.” Matt was smart and logical; that had to mean something. If they thought his memory was going to come back soon, that was even better.

“I wasn’t hiding from you.” Emmy didn’t want to give anyone more reason to be mad at her. They already didn’t trust her, and she was doing her best to understand why. “I know you weren’t,” he said, looking at his mother, who was trying to look shame-faced. However, it wasn’t really working. “Well, you get going, and we’ll see you in the morning,” Marcia said with a wobbly smile on her face. Emmy leaned over Matt to get her purse when he pulled her closer. “I’m not sure

what’s going on, but I’m going to go with my gut and trust you.” She could only nod, as he released her purse but put his hands in her hair to bring her down for a kiss. It wasn’t as rough as she remembered it, but she was glad about that. There were other people in the room, but when he touched her, it was hard to remember that. “I’ll be back after I’ve had some rest,” she said moving out of his arms and trying to ignore the cold chill coming from the area of the room where his mother stayed. “Alright,” Matt said through his heavy-

lidded gaze. “One more thing before you go… what’s your name?”

CHAPTER TWENTY “Matthew James Perrier.” His mother was in quite a state, and he couldn’t say that he blamed her. If the shoe was on the other foot, he’d be calling out all of her names, too. The fact that he didn’t remember the name of the woman whom he gave his keys to did not sound smart, but it felt right. That was something he just wasn’t going to be able to explain to his mother. “I know what you’re going to say, Mom, but I trust her. I’ve been in the Navy for a good while, and one of my specialties is reading people. I can’t remember the last week or so, but I’m still the same

person I was.” Matt knew his mother was protective of him—probably more so now than she ever was. However, when Emmy didn’t return after his mother and old friend’s arrival, he knew the sexy woman who’d helped him relieve a bit of tension had been thrown out. He knew that his status quo had been to find willing partners, have a bit of fun, and then separate mutually and happily, but he didn’t think it had been that way for them. “I’m not saying that you’re wrong about her. It’s just that…do you really need to get involved with someone right now? I always thought that you and Candy were going to get together after you came out

of service.” His mother knew how to work a sentence and turn the knife. She wanted what was best for him, sure, but she also wanted what she wanted. The whole Candy and him being a couple thing was something that had been a bee in his mother’s bonnet for a long while. It wasn’t ever going to happen… he and Candy were friends. Period. He looked over at his friend and saw a look in her eye that wasn’t there the last time he’d been home. Fuck! His mother had gotten to her. This wasn’t going to be good. “You know we aren’t like that, Mom. Tell her, Candy… or has she warped

your mind somehow?” He kept his gaze moving between the two women in the room, trying to figure out what was going on. Was it that he’d been injured and they had let their fears make them worry about his future? “I’ve always loved you, Matt.” Candy sat down on the bed, and he wondered what his mother had said to her, but when she looked at his mother, he wondered what was next. “But it’s never been romantic between us.” His mother looked like she’d lost the heavy weight title fight, as her face slipped a bit from the big smile she’d worn as she heard Candy proclaim her

love to him. “For the record, I think your girlfriend is hot and looks like she can totally give you a run for your money. Can you remember anything about the time that you were together?” “We aren’t supposed to bother him with that, Candy.” His mother shooed her away from him. “You don’t even have to think about her if you don’t want to.” “I feel like there are flashes of information coming through, but nothing is solid.” The doctor’s walked in and filled the

room. All the white coats should have left them all blinded. Why the hell did they have to walk around in such a large group? “You were very lucky Lieutenant Commander Perrier. There must be some kind of guardian angel that was wrapped around you as you wrapped around the woman you were cradling in your arms. Looking at that portion of the building, it’s amazing that anyone made it out of that alive, but here you are with minimal damage, and the woman was treated and released with very minor bruising,” the oldest doctor said. “Someone told me that I’d be able to get

out of here soon.” Matt didn’t want to be pushy, but if he didn’t have to be here, he didn’t want to be. “That was Dr. Miller who was in earlier. We went over your case and wanted to try something new. The woman who stayed with you when you were unconscious… is she still here?” The doctor looked around the room like Emmy was going to pop out of somewhere. “No. She was tired and since my mother just got here I thought I’d let her get some rest.” Matt was already feeling protective of the woman whose existence in his life was like an elusive

dream. It was like the memory of her waited just outside of a periphery that he didn’t have clearance to obtain but knew was there. “Good. I’m glad you didn’t send her away. We were thinking that you should spend a few days alone with her since that’s what you’d done before all this happened. That may jog your memory,” said the doctor, as he addressed him and his mother. “How do we know she’s telling the truth?” His mother was holding on to her version of the story where he was the victim of some wrong doing. He couldn’t figure out why though. It wasn’t

every day that someone came along to help someone else out the way she had selflessly and completely for a stranger. There was something there. “We have surveillance from the base before the typhoon that puts the couple together. They also had a situation that occurred while they were on vacation in Hawaii where Matt had to disarm a knife-wielding assailant. There is a police record and the couple admitted to being together at that time. We do a lot to make sure that people are who they say they are. Emily Roth is new college graduate from Connecticut who is planning on doing some extensive traveling.” The doctor looked pretty

pleased with himself, as he told of his gathered information. “I don’t tell you this for any other reason than you are having some memory loss and we are asking that you spend time with someone who you don’t remember. This isn’t something that is mandatory, but we’ve seen it works well with cases like yours.” “What about us?” His mother wasn’t used to being left out of her son’s life, and Matt could hear the frustration in her voice. The woman had traveled for days, probably dropping everything she had going on to get here, only to be told that she wasn’t really needed.

“Ms. Perrier, mothers like you should be commended. Thank you for running out to see about your brave son who put his life on the line like he does every day for his fellow man. You’ve done a great job with him. That’s clear. I know you want him to be back at one hundred percent, and we think this is the fastest way to get that done.” The doctor should have been a motivational speaker. His mother’s face was filled with pride, and that meant that this doctor knew how to handle people. Matt looked over at Candy, and she winked at him. He should have known his friend wouldn’t let him down, but he still wondered what all the weirdness

coming from her was about. “Can I talk to you for a moment outside,” his mother said to the doctor. “Sure, but before I leave, are there any questions, Matt?” Matt shook his head. He was happy that the doctor stampede would be getting out of his space, and he was happy for a chance to talk to his friend. As soon as the door closed, he patted the space next to him on the bed. “I knew this was coming,” Candy said, as her butt hit the bed.

“Good. If you knew it was coming, then you know what I am going to say.” “Your mother had me scared that you were dead or incapacitated in some way, and I let her talk me into thinking that we just may be able to get together.” She wasn’t even looking at him, just playing with the hem of her jeans. “Then what happened?” He hated coaxing her, but there was going to be only so much time his mother was going to be gone, and when she was in the room, Candy tended to be quiet. “I saw your girlfriend, and I wasn’t jealous of her. I was sad for her.” She

finally looked up, and Matt still couldn’t read what she was trying to say. That was something because they’d grown up together and he knew her more than anyone. “Why?” “When we got here, we saw her sleeping in the lobby, but we were in such a rush that we walked on by. She stayed on my mind, and I wondered who in the world she was waiting for that she’d be crunched up in a ball, on a small chair. Where was her family? Was she alone? Was she stranded?” Candy got up, walked to the window,

and looked out of it. “When your mother found out someone had stayed by your side throughout your whole ordeal, she was not pleased, but when she found out the woman said she was your girlfriend, she was livid. Maybe she’s used to you having girlfriends around, but when she woke your friend up, she was pretty brutal. She told her that she wasn’t going to be able to see you again until you regained your memory, and she looked heartbroken, but she didn’t say a word.” “It’s a good thing I kept her purse until I could see her again then, huh?” Matt asked.

Candy came back to the bed, and she started to giggle. “You are a very attractive man, but just not my man. I have got to remember to not let your mother get into my head.” “Very good thing to remember.” He reached up and ruffled her hair just because it’s something he always did. He’d ruffle her hair, and she’d complain… it was a tradition. His mother came in and looked at the both of them. “Well, we should be going soon, but since you aren’t leaving until tomorrow, I think we should at least be with you until you get discharged. Then,

maybe I can find a way to have a better first impression of Emmy.” “That’s the mom I know and love.” “Yeah, yeah… my son grew up to be a SEAL and a man. I’ve got to start acting accordingly.” “Well, maybe a hit to my noggin wasn’t the worst thing that could happen if my mother is talking like this.” “I don’t know about all that. I will just say that I’ll do my part if that will get you back to normal.” “Who could ask for more than that?”

Matt said.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE Emmy wasn’t sure what was going to happen today. From the moment this wild ride of a trip started it was like she didn’t recognize her life and sometimes…herself. The housing area that they’d given to Matt was nice and cozy. The one-bedroom apartment with a dining room, living room, full bathroom, and kitchen was complete with furniture, and the man who brought her to the house also took her to the base shopping center too so they were stocked up on food and niceties that made any house a home in her book. She’d taken one last look around the

house, and she hoped there would be enough room for them all. This was a very small place, but she had lived with her four brothers and parents, so she knew how to pack it in when she needed to. Then, she headed to the hospital. The hospital elevator dinged and she stepped off of it and went to Matt’s room, trying to keep her tension at bay. She took a deep breath and opened the door. “There you are.” Matt was sitting in the loveseat all ready to go. “If you were ready earlier, why didn’t you tell me to come and get you?” Emmy

looked around the room and wondered why it was so quiet. “If you’re looking for my mother and Candy, they aren’t here. They left early this morning.” “Why? I would have thought they would be afraid to leave you alone with me.” Keeping the smart ass bitterness out of her voice was difficult, but before she slept, she kept replaying the words that had awakened her from her uncomfortable nap in the lobby. “Well, they were… until the doctor said that they think I have a mild cast of amnesia, and they think that you can help

me with it.” “Really? What do I have to do?” She was willing to do whatever for Matt. Not only had she fallen in love with the protective man, but he’d saved her life more times than she was willing to think about. Not that she would tell him about the love part. She knew that this was supposed to be a fling, and even if he didn’t remember his reservations about them being together right now, she did and she’d remind him of that, too. “They think since I spent the majority of the time right before the accident with you that being with you now will bring my memory back. They need me for a

special assignment. It was created just for me. I was brought here to get my final instructions and then deploy with the specialized crew they set up for this particular task.” “Can you remember anything about it?” She knew that he couldn’t tell her that much about the mission, and she didn’t want to know about it; she just wanted to see how far they were from his baseline. “They told me the specifics when I got on base, and I was hit soon after that. Just like the time I spent with you. Sometimes the memories hover right under the surface, but I just can’t reach them. The doctor’s think that you may be

the key to solving that problem. Just by being you…” That seemed like a lot of pressure to be in charge of so much, but she could just be her and hope that was enough. It was something because back home she was the person that everyone watched out for and tried to make more comfortable. She’d had a leaky heart valve, and when she was young, she was often out of breath and sickly, but with her metallic valve working like a charm, she was fine. Her parents had kept the death of her favorite aunt away from her until she had graduated because they thought the stress would be too much. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. When

she got her inheritance from her wonderful aunt, she decided to take a trip to all the wonderful places she’d always wanted to go but let her family scare her into thinking she couldn’t go alone. “If you want me… just being me. I have that in spades. Are you ready to go?” She wanted to get out of this hospital as soon as she could. Having spent so much time in the hospital as a child, she refused to go back. Even when her brother’s wife’s had children, she’d wait until they brought them home. Sure, she claimed that she didn’t want to overwhelm the mother at the hospital and she wanted the immediate family to

bond. It was true, but that wasn’t the real reason she didn’t go. When she was released from the hospital, she had the icky feeling she always had, but it didn’t occur to her to leave. She wanted to make sure Matt was okay, and with all the commotion of increased patients and not enough staff, she didn’t mind taking care of him. Matt stood up and tried to grab his bags. “Should you be lifting anything?” Emmy jumped in front of him and took the bag from his hand. “Yes, sexy nurse, I got my discharge instructions, and they said that I’m fit as

a fiddle. I’m a bit weak from laying around just that little bit of time, but I’m going to be going to physical therapy a few times a day just to get myself back together.” Matt pointed to the little cart they’d given him to roll his items out to the car. “That sounds like a plan.” Getting him to the car and back to the house was not a problem. It’s a good thing that he was a SEAL because his rigid workout regime and powerful body had done a lot to make what could have been a more debilitating injury very minor.

He was tired from the short trip home but was able to take a shower and get dressed alone in the bathroom. It was weird being with a man she knew so intimately but now felt like a stranger. When he returned from the bathroom, she wanted to rub her hands all over his body and enjoy him, but she felt shy. He walked toward her and pulled her into his arms. Matt was always so good at reading her and tonight was no exception. She had wondered before if he was good at reading her, or if it was the fact that he was just good at that in general, and now she had her answer “The look on your face says you wanted

some contact, but if I’ve misread your expression, let me know.” He was much gentler than he used to be, and she figured that he thought she was as fragile as he thought she was when he first met her. She’d changed his mind then, and she’d do it again. Lifting her face toward him, she wound her fingers in his hair and brought him down for a kiss that was Matt-worthy. She loved the way he kissed her, it was always so hungry and needy—although she doubted he would describe it like that. It felt like he was trying to meld them together into one person. The fierce need and desire had always made her wet instantly. Now it was her turn to

meld them together, and she found out why he must love doing that as much as he did. It was empowering. The sounds of their lips coming together and his grabby hands increased the fervor of the moment until she had to stop to catch her breath. He smiled at her, and she wondered if he remembered anything. “Did that jog any memories?” she asked, sounding like a marathon runner who was out of practice. “I don’t know for sure, but I’m enjoying this method more than any other so far.” He was relaxed like she’d never seen

him. It wasn’t that he was an uptight guy, quite the contrary, but his eyes had always seemed intense and calculating. “I’m glad you approve.” “I know it has to be hard for you to be with me when you feel like I’m a stranger to you.” Matt stopped talking abruptly. “Sex with a stranger… is that on a list?” “Yes!” she screamed, and the noise seemed to break his thoughts. It looked like he was trying to get the thought back, but after a few minutes, he shrugged.

“That’s what I was talking about. The thought will be there just out of reach, but then it’s gone without me fully understanding what happened.” “I probably scared it away.” She was disappointed that she’d made such a loud noise and interrupted the progress, but she’d gotten so excited that he’d remembered something. Emmy made a note not to startle him when he was remembering something. “Don’t worry about it, Emmy; it’ll come back.” She’d known it was hard for him to watch her be sad before the accident,

and it seemed he still had that trait, so she tried to put on a smile for him so he wouldn’t worry. He had enough to deal with without bothering with her. “So what else do you want to do that may stir up my memory?” “You loved looking at my body.” She was going to have to work on not sounding like a gentle little lamb when she wanted to be a fierce lioness. “I’m sure I did. Refresh my memory.” He walked over to the couch, sat down, and looked as if he was getting ready to watch one of the premier dancers at a strip club. It should have been a touch

demeaning, but she liked his eyes on her, and it was like he was seeing her for the first time. She hoped that the accident didn’t affect the kind of woman he liked because if it didn’t she was confident that he was going to like what he saw. “I didn’t dress to seduce you. I dressed to pick you up from the hospital.” She was unbuttoning her blouse slowly, but for some reason she wanted to turn off the light. “It’s not the clothes on the woman that are seductive…it’s the woman wearing the clothes. Don’t be bashful now, Emmy. Just yesterday you had your tits bared and your skirt up while you played

with your pussy as I watched.” His one eyebrow was cocked up the way it always was when he was amused. “I thought you knew who I was then. You like to play games sometimes; I thought this was the ‘Hey, I don’t know who you are, but I’m going to have sex with a stranger game.’” “That does sound like a great game, and I enjoyed it thoroughly, but since I’ve already seen what you have and I almost took out your eye with how hard I came, you shouldn’t feel bashful.” He had his eyes on her breasts, and she couldn’t stop herself from having a bit of fun with him.

She took off her shirt and pinched her nipples through her bra. They were already hard because of her present company, but the slight prick of pain made her gasp. “I’m trying to give you the opportunity to strip, but if you’re going to be playing while you do it I may have to make this more interactive.” This was the Matt she knew. Demanding, pushy, and used to his orders being followed. “You like that?” he whispered.

“That’s what I’m used to from you, and yes, I love it.” She shed the rest of her clothes until she was in her bra and panties before she looked at him expectantly. “Is that the end of the show?” She nodded and wondered what it was going to be like being with this almost new man. He patted his lap, and she walked over and straddled him. “Nice move.” He was studying her, and if it weren’t for the fact that she knew he didn’t remember her, she would have said that nothing really seemed off with him.

“I thought you’d like that. As much as I’d like to sit here and be cordial, I have to tell you that before your accident you kept me well fed. Before I met you, I didn’t even know how hungry I could get or what I wanted to eat, but when you came along you rectified that.” She knew she was talking in code, and that probably wasn’t good for the man working on his memory. “You’re saying that you were famished when you met me, I helped you cultivate tastes for a new diet, and now you are starving and would like to eat.” She let go of a breath she didn’t even

know she was holding. “I’m so glad that you got what I was saying.” “I don’t remember the last few weeks, but I do remember what double talk is and how to read between the lines. Plus, even if I didn’t know any of that, the way you’re grinding your sweet pussy on the seam of my jeans would be a clear indicator that you want to be filled with my cock.” “How do you feel about that?” Asking him this was torture because if he said no she was going to have to deal with it, but she was hoping and praying that he wouldn’t say that.

He didn’t answer her with words, but he brought both hands up to her breasts and found her hard nipples easily with his thumb and index finger. Pulling them slightly, he brought her to him and moaned into her mouth. It was easily the sexiest sound she’d ever heard, and she didn’t think her first orgasm was going to be with him inside because she was so turned on right now. “Don’t even think about giving my jeans what my cock deserves.” He looked up into her eyes, and she was lost. His beautiful cornflower blue eyes sparkled with mischief and arousal, and she was so full she prayed she could keep her mouth closed and the words of love

locked behind her lips. “You want it bad, huh, Emmy?” The sexy smirk was back, and she was torn between wanting to kiss it off his face and placing her pussy on it. She couldn’t think of an answer so she just stared at him. “Biting your lip is only making me hornier. If you want something in your mouth, feel free to use my cock. I’d love to take up residence.” He put his thumb up to her mouth and pressed down on the lip she was worrying with her teeth before putting his digit into replace it.

Emmy saw the challenge in his eyes and wanted to meet it like no other challenge. Moving off his lap smoothly, she kept his thumb in her mouth for as long as he’d allow it, but as soon as she started mouthing his cock through the fabric of his pants, he groaned and started undoing the snaps of his jeans. “Anxious?” she asked him, feeling more comfortable since she was in the driver’s seat. “For your mouth on my cock? Fuck, yes. You’ve got a mouth that looks like it was made to slip and slurp my cock. I’ve been dying to get in there since I laid my eyes on you.”

She enjoyed the thick hard cock that felt large and substantial in her hand. It had only been a few days since she had enjoyed Matt’s body, but he was like a sugary sweet snack…tempting, filling, and addictive. “Is that so?” She stroked his cock up and down, feeling the hard core under the silky soft skin. Emmy knew what he liked from previous experience, but watching him enjoy each stroke was like she was winning something special. “You really know how to work me over. Don’t think I didn’t notice that you know just how I like my cock jerked. From the

base to the tip with just a bit of drag and a snug squeeze right under the cap. What would be the cherry on top?” She opened her mouth and closed it over the head of his dick, teasing the opening with her tongue and licking all around the top. His breath hitched a bit, but she knew it would take more than this to get him over. Taking her other hand and cupping his balls, she could feel the warmth and the wetness churning up within her. Turning him on was turning her on more, and she wished she had one more hand to stick into her panties to give herself a bit of relief. If you would have asked her, she would

have told you that she was totally into this for him and him alone, but she must have been distracted a bit because she was surprised… almost dazed when he took his cock from her mouth and began stroking it himself. “What’s wrong?” she asked, as she reached for his cock again only to be denied. He moved it out of her reach, and she wanted to have a tantrum. Emmy kept her eyes glued to the rhythmic stroking of his cock with his large hand, like she was a puppy waiting for her toy to be returned to her. “Nothing’s wrong at all. Just like I didn’t want you to give your orgasm to my

pants, I don’t want to spend mine in your mouth. That would be so easy to do, and seeing how much you like it, I’m sure I can accommodate you another time, but this time, I want to feel your tight pussy squeezing me and your juice running down my cock and onto my balls.” He didn’t sound unaffected and that helped her pride just a bit. A whimper was all that she could give him, but she had to admit his plan sounded awesome. She had her panties off and tossed to the side and was up and on her hands and knees in the middle of the floor before he could utter another word.

“That’s really sexy, sweetheart, but I want you back up where you were, straddling me with those legs and riding me hard. I want your pussy dripping on me, and I want your tits right where I can play with them and make you come even harder. The way your ass is looking is making me want other things. Come on, Emmy, sit on my cock and make it good.” He stood up and removed his pants completely while he talked. Matt made it all look so graceful, coordinated, and easy, as he moved his body to complete his task and was in his naked splendor back on the couch without breaking eye contact. He’d talked dirty before and was

explicit before, but something about the way he was talking to her now could probably get her off if she rubbed her legs together too hard. She was off all fours, but she remained on the floor, mesmerized by the slow stroking of his cock. Why was he so sexy? He wasn’t her first lover; she’d had her fair share. Yet, there was something about him that made everything sexy—from the way he smiled, to how he studied her and her particular desires. When it came to actual sex, he was just off the Richter scale. He may not remember her, but something in him did and it showed. “Do you want me to chase you?” he asked with a smirk on his face.

She was up from the floor and on his lap before she thought about his question. That may not have been a bad suggestion, but he must have seen her plan written all over her face. Placing his hands on her ass he squeezed her cheeks and spread her wide at the same time fitting his cock in the notch between her legs. He used her body like his own personal sex toy, wetting himself with her juices as he slid her up and down his shaft. “Don’t even think about it. You’ve got me so hard and ready I may break something chasing around after you, but

now that I know it excites you, we’ll have to do something about that particular fantasy.” His voice was low, and she loved how it made the butterflies in her stomach seem to fly just that much faster. This man could stop his dangerous work and make porn. The world would love him probably as much as she did. They were both enjoying his ministrations, but he stopped for a second to put on a condom, and she was glad one of them was thinking about that. She just wanted to grab his cock by the base and put it in. The empty feeling she had needed to be filled up, and that was all she could focus on. The fact that she

had Matt to herself and he was physically able to do this was amazing since a few days ago she sat in a room full of beeping machines with no response from the man. They’d told her that his body had missed most of the impact because of furniture in the room, but the jarring had shaken his brain up a bit. “Are you done?” She tried for cheeky with her comment, but it came out sounding impatient, but he smiled when he nodded, like he knew she liked to place him inside of her before she set the pace for their ride. Not like it usually lasted long. He’d give her time to have fun, but she’d often find herself on her

back receiving the last few hard and deep thrusts that would take them both over their sexual edge. His cock seemed bigger than it had a few days ago, or maybe she was just tighter. Slowly, she impaled herself on his large throbbing organ, and he patiently watched her decent. Well, it seemed patient if she didn’t watch the way his mouth flattened out. Should it make her happy that waiting wasn’t as easy for him as he made it seemed? He was the master at teasing and holding her off until he was ready. Did it make for a stronger orgasm… yes, but that didn’t mean she liked it. She loved it, but she didn’t like it.

When she had filled herself with him, she wiggled a bit just to feel his balls on her ass, and she clenched at him with the walls of her pussy just to see if he could feel it. “Torture. That’s what this is about, isn’t it?” He laughed as he said it, but they both knew that’s what this was. Emmy liked his rough nature, and she wondered if he remembered that. Probably not, the memory of her was gone; it was like she’d never existed. That made her gasp, and his look of arousal change to concern. “What’s wrong, Emmy?” She didn’t want to get into that. Here

they were enjoying each other, and she went and ruined the moment. This was supposed to be fun…it was always supposed to be fun. It was her that made it something that it wasn’t, but she wasn’t going to share that with him now or ever. Emmy raised up on his lap so that just the very tip of his cock was inside her warmth, but then she slammed down and that move took his breath away. She always enjoyed the surprises he gave her, so now it was time for a few for him. “I know you like to fuck hard, Matt. Don’t think to spare me because I love it like that, too.” She was on the slow rise up while she talked to him but slammed

back down for the second time and loved the look of lust on Matt’s face. She was opening up something because the sweetly massaging hands were decidedly rougher as they helped to raise and drop her on him again. “You look so sweet, but you’re a naughty one, aren’t you? I’m sure you know how much I like that. You sitting here with your good girl panties on and your bad girl body is enough to make me want to keep you.” He brought her down to taste her lips in what she thought was going to be a sweet kiss, but she was mistaken. This kiss was soul-wrenching, as he seemed to pour a lot of his everything into it. Tongue and teeth clashed, as they

fought to show each other how hungry they were for each other. Kisses like this wrecked her, as well as his words to keep her for himself. It was clear that he wasn’t truly in his right mind, but it warmed her heart to hear his unguarded thoughts about her. His personal sex toy. That’s what she felt like she was, as he guided himself into her body. This seemed more like him fucking her from the bottom than her riding him from the top, but she couldn’t have loved it more if she tried. He was so into it that he’d let go in ways he’d never done before, and her breath hitched as he hit a hot spot deep within her again and again.

“Fuck me harder, Matt.” The words flew from her mouth, almost involuntarily. However, when they were out, she knew that truer words couldn’t have been spoken. That’s what she wanted... him to take over her body, her mind, and her orgasm. Leaving her free to feel each and every sensation that he would wring out of her body. The light in his eyes seemed to grow brighter, and he rolled them both on the couch so that she was on her back. He had her lifted so that she was level with his cock as he kneeled on the floor. The gleam in his eyes told her she was in for it, and she couldn’t have been happier.

“Are you ready, sweetheart?” “Give me what you’ve got, Matt. Don’t hold back. I’m a big girl and I can take it.” Moving his hands all around her body, each caress felt like a kiss and the stimulation was overwhelming. Her body was so sensitive, and it was hard for her to keep still. “I can see you’re ready, but are you ready enough? Maybe you should get a bit more. I want you to pop loud and hard. He moved one hand down her stomach so he could thumb her clit and

the other went to pinch her nipples, first one and then the other. “Matt?” That was all she could think to say, not please or now or I can’t take any more, just his name and she hoped he knew what it meant. “I know, Emmy, I know,” he said but didn’t change what he was doing until she could feel her body ratchet up so hard it felt like she was going to splinter and crack for good when she released. Just when she thought she couldn’t take it anymore, he fucked into her fast and hard while he leaned over her. They both were making noise, but she

couldn’t discern which sound was his, but clearly this was good for him as well. She wanted to do something to be empowering and sexy, but her mind was blank. Reaching up, she caught his nipple within her finger and thumb and pulled it. That move always made her hot, and she hoped it did the same for him. The loud male shout and quick thrusts signaled his release, and his throbbing cock pumped his seed into the protective bag they’d placed over him, but she could still feel the spurts leaving his cock as it flexed and released within her. The tightening of her body suddenly released, and she felt like she was in freefall. The waves of pleasure that overtook her didn’t seem like they were

ever going to stop, but she found herself receiving comfort in Matt’s arms, as he held her through her climax and aftershocks. “Wow,” he whispered in her ear when her body had subsided from its twitching and convulsing. “I know…we’re kind of combustible together.” She knew that they always had been, but not like this. This was something else… something more, but she didn’t want to make that big of a deal about this. He was needed to perform some top secret mission, and although this was everything she wanted in a man, she knew his desire to remain

single. “That should have remained in my memory, but I know this will. You are one big ball of hot, Ms. Roth,” he said, and she assumed he was trying to get their bearings back in place. She didn’t know how he’d feel if he knew she had such a strong connection with a person he didn’t remember. “Well, your balls are definitely bigger,” she countered with what she hoped was an effortless and worry-free attitude. His smile was bright, and she hoped hers was, too. It didn’t help that she was a worrier and thought of each and every

scenario this situation may encounter. How would his memory return? Would he have to hit his head on something like what happens in TV comedies? Would it just come back spontaneously? Or would some life event just jar his mind back to clarity? When these things happened would he remember this time or would it be gone? And what about when they met, would he remember that? “Shhhhh,” Matt said, as he withdrew from her body. For whatever reason that part always made her a little sad. They were separating in the most real sense of the word, and there were times like now when she wanted to protest that.

“What?” She hadn’t remembered saying anything. Have mercy if she was just saying random things out loud. With the way her mind was going, she didn’t want him anywhere near it. “You are thinking so loud it’s disrupting my mellow.” Matt smiled, and she tried to smile along with him, but it was clear he could see the sadness beneath my façade. “Don’t worry about any of this. Let’s just have fun with it. Our bodies clearly know each other, and we’re having fun, right?” “Right,” she said, wanting to get away to the bathroom and cry. This place was way too small for that.

“One moment at a time. That’s all we can do right now.” He stood up and got rid of the condom that contained the evidence of all the sexy fun, and she watched his sexy ass walk all the way to the bathroom. He was right. One moment at a time and one day at a time was all they had. She would try her best to enjoy it and kick the worrywart persona off her shoulder the best way she could.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO The next few days went by without a hitch, with them learning each other again. Matt couldn’t believe that they were so in synch. Emmy made him laugh and was great to be around. Even when they were both being quiet doing another activity, he found comfort in her presence, but he began to wonder what he was holding her back from. It had been almost a week that had gone by, and she’d told him that she’d been on her way to the Philippines. “How long will you be around?” He tried to ask the question in an off-handed kind of way but could tell that she

thought she was getting her walking papers. Her eyes got wide, and she looked around frantically like she did when there was a question she didn’t want to answer. “This is not me trying to get rid of you. This is me trying to figure out how much time you have left to spend with me and what you’re missing out on while you take care of me.” “I’m not missing out on anything. I’ve been having a great time with you, and you’ve saved my goose so many times there is no way I’m leaving you when you need my help.” “The doctor’s didn’t think this process was going to take long, but I’m beginning

to wonder if those few days and weeks are just gone for good.” He watched her watch him and couldn’t remember when he’d spent so much time with any one person and they didn’t get on his nerves, but here she sat, drinking her coffee and reading the paper, and he didn’t want it any other way. “I’m sure an overachiever like you will get what he wants. I’m going to pull a line from your repertoire and tell you what you always tell me, ‘Don’t worry about it. We only can do what we can do and the rest we leave alone.’” “Curses… foiled by my own words. There’s a crime in that somewhere.” He

watched her get up to get a refill on her coffee and enjoyed her whole process, from the way she poured her milk to the way she added the sugar to her coffee, before he got up to put his plate in the sink. He thought there was enough room to slip by right behind her, but she turned at the last minute and spilled hot coffee all over him. Emmy got paper towels and cleaned him off like the warm coffee was going to do some damage to him. With as much cream as she added, the coffee was practically room temperature. “Oh my damn,” she said, as she wiped and blotted through his sweat pants. It

didn’t take long for her to stop cleaning and start rubbing the part of him that seemed to always be ready for her. “Did you want to use that or were you just checking it out for size.” He was just being funny, but something in the way she looked at him made him think about what he’d just said. It sounded funny when he thought about it, but clearly something was wrong. “What?” “That’s the first thing you said to me when I spilled coffee on you at the airport when we first met.” He didn’t know why that would make her sad but it had. “That makes you

sad…why?” She just shrugged, and he knew that they would get to the bottom of this, but first he wanted to put another look on her face. “Emmy,” he said in a low voice that he tried to make as threatening as he could. She looked over and the sadness that played over her features had dulled a bit. Now she just looked at him with a question on her face, like it was too much effort to answer him. She raised her eyebrows to indicate that she was listening and wanted to know what he wanted.

“Run,” he said, and she took off. The other night when they’d first had sex, he asked her if she wanted him to chase her, and the look on her face answered the question even though no words left her mouth. He’d decided then to fulfill her fantasy. For some reason, an image of a small pink-lined piece of paper came across his mind, but he couldn’t think of why that would be significant. He’d have to think more on that later, as the apartment wasn’t very big so this chase was going to be limited. If he waited too long to catch her, she’d already be back to where he was. Like the hide-and-seek game, he’d given

her time to get away. That wasn’t his plan, but it worked. He didn’t have a clue to where she was, but he knew she didn’t leave so her options were limited. “I said run, not hide Emmy.” He looked in ridiculous places, knowing that she could probably see him wherever she was hiding, but the point of this game was anticipation, so he’d keep it going for as long as he could. He overturned pillows and looked in drawers, thinking that she could only be behind the curtains, under the bed, or in the tub, but he’d get to those places when she was good and primed. He was a retriever although he doubted she knew what he did as a SEAL. It wasn’t something that

they could really talk about, but he was good at what he did. The harsh breaths that Emmy was trying to contain gave her away; she was behind the curtains and she’d placed a towel at the bottom so it looked like there was just a discarded item on the floor. Too bad they kept this place spotless or that would have thrown him off her trail… well, except for the breathing. He walked over to the curtains and flung them back. “That was a good attempt, but what will you do now?” he asked, as he enjoyed

the pink flush of her cheeks and the bright smile on her face. This wasn’t a permanent fix, but it was getting her mind off whatever made her so sad in the kitchen. She was quick as she moved to the side and jumped away from him, but just not quick enough. He caught her in midair and she fought him like a wild cat in a trap. She had on one of his shirts, but he wondered what she had on under that. “Looks like someone likes to be chased. It gets her all excited.” He talked to her in her ear and decided to let her get the full fantasy going. Her back was to his chest, and all her goodies were in a

prime position to be played with. She nodded and pushed her ass back to him. He knew she liked the sweet sting of pain with her pleasure and wanted to find out how she’d like a quick spanking before he filled her hole with all he had to offer. His cock throbbed just thinking about it. “Did you still want your safe word to be orange soda?” Her quick intake of breath made him turn her around. “Are you okay?” Emmy’s smile was wobbly, and the sparkle had dimmed a bit but it was still

there. She nodded her head at the use of her safe word and looked around like she wanted to say something else. While he was trying to figure out what was wrong, she ran into the living room. He took off after her and found he enjoyed chasing her as much as she liked being chased if not more. She wasn’t putting a lot of effort into getting away from him, but the effort made him hot. He caught her and brought her kicking and wiggling body to the bedroom. This was much more fun than physical therapy, and he was getting quite a work out trying to contain her. He moved back to the bed and fell on it bringing her with him. She fell all sprawled out with her

legs wide. “Did you want to be petted? Is that why you’ve opened up so wide?” He rubbed two fingers lightly along the seam of her pussy through her panties, and she opened up her legs wider. The smile on his face was hard to hide, but he was trying to play the role for the both of them. Her ass was rolling around on his thigh, trying to get more contact with anything that would push her button… literally. She had on the plainest panties he could imagine. White cotton briefs with no flowers or stripes, and on any other woman he’d have just removed them and

got on with what he was doing, but on her, it was the most provocative piece of fabric he’d ever seen. It was like a present each and every time he saw them, even thought something about them made him feel like he was doing something he shouldn’t. They weren’t the easiest to pull to the side, but watching his cock fill her snug pussy with that soft cotton sliding up and down his shaft on every entrance and exit made him blow his load faster and harder than he could ever remember. The firm slap to one of her ass cheeks made her breath catch and her hips stutter. She liked that. He was always good at reading people, and it was more

pleasurable to read women, but with this one the pleasure was deeper and the rewards for educating himself on her nuances were outstanding. He rubbed the spot that he’d just assaulted, and she pushed against his hand. “Matt?” “Yes?” She sighed big and slapped her own ass harder than he’d have done it, but she whimpered like it was the best thing ever. Oh it was like that? He could definitely help her out. He situated her so that she was half on

his lap with her head on the bed and her one foot on the floor. The other leg he drew up and placed on the bed so her pussy was wide open to him. He began tapping her cheeks lightly but then building up only to stop and rub her pussy through her panties. Matt didn’t know when he’d had so much fun with foreplay. Watching her yip and flinch before her hips rolled, trying to make contact with something substantial was hot as fuck, but he’d positioned her so that she’d not be able to get off by rubbing on anything. She was pumping the air—and his fingers when he allowed it. “You’re trying to kill me with

frustration,” she moaned into the bed. “Maybe, but what a way to go,” he replied and was encouraged by the weak laughter that was muffled by the bed covers. The last few smacks were loud and quick. Emmy lay on his lap, trembling, and he decided to end it. Standing up he moved her to the center of the bed and then flipped her, placing her feet on the bed and spreading her knees wide. “Looks like you’ve made your good girl panties all wet.” He poked at her opening where the wet spot was growing and ran his fingers up to the hard knot of

nerves but only lightly. “I love how you call my underwear ‘good girl panties’—are there bad girl panties, too?” “Yes. You have a few pair of them, but I am enjoying you in these.” He pulled the fabric that was covering the place he wanted to kiss the most to the side and took a moment to just take in the sight and aroma of this woman. “Is this what I did to you?” “It’s what you always do to me. When I hear your voice or see your face, my pussy gets ready for you.”

“She deserves a kiss for that.” He gave a few light kisses from her entrance to her sweet spot and waited for Emmy to stop pumping her hips toward him. It didn’t make sense that just this little bit of play would make him so hard. It was like he’d never been held within her slick heat. Each and every time it was like the very first time. Thrusting two fingers inside her and fastening his mouth onto her clit made her scream out her passion. She grabbed his hair that had grown much longer than it usually was and pull him toward her. There was no way he was going to leave her like that. He sucked and nibbled on her clit while she grinded against his mouth fiercely.

Her orgasm went on and on, and the longer it lasted, the happier he was about it. When she was done, it was like all the stuffing had come out of her, and she was like a limp rag doll. He got on the bed and pulled her into his arms, petting her as she pulled herself together. “I like that game,” she said, sounding like she was going to go to sleep any second. “I thought you might. Since you’re so relaxed and comfortable, tell me why there was sadness in your face when I asked you the question in the kitchen.” Her sighs were becoming legendary.

“I’m going to admit this, but know that I feel bad about saying it.” “Noted.” “You’re getting your memory back. You may not notice it, but more and more you’re remembering things.” “I feel flashes of things more often, and they are a bit clearer, but why does that make you sad.” He turned her so he could see her face. It was easier to read someone when he could look at them, apparently she knew that too and tried to turn away. “Stop, I like looking at you so stop trying to hide.”

“You remembered the first sentence you ever spoke to me; you remembered my safe word was orange soda; and you remember different things about me. I’ve liked being with you. I’ve enjoyed sharing breakfast and the paper. Laughing about stupid things on television. When you get your memory back, it will be time for you to go back to work.” It was him that looked away this time. Not because of what she was saying, but because he’d thought of the same thing and had also been concerned about it. “I’ve enjoyed you, too. When I get my memory back, and you know I will

because I’m too stubborn and dedicated for my mind to not do what I want, we’ll still talk.” “That’s what I get sad about. The you I knew didn’t want that. You left me sleeping in my room when you left the first time, and we didn’t even have each other’s information.” “Fate had a different plan for us though, and here we are.” “I just don’t want you to do anything that you don’t really want to do, and the other thing is I don’t want to get used to you, and then you get your memory back and have the same mindset you had

before, which was leave…leave… leave.” He didn’t really have an answer for her, and he knew that he was getting better. In the next little while, hopefully, he’d have his memory back, but he wanted her, too. Until he could work that out, he wouldn’t bring it up to her, so he just gathered her closer to him and hoped she could feel a portion of what he was feeling in his caress and hold. “I understand what you’re saying and how you’re feeling…” “I know, Matt, one moment at a time and one day at a time,” she said, sounding

resigned. “You know me pretty well, too, it looks like.” He looked at her and watched her study him like she would be drawing a picture for the line-up technician at the police station, like he was going to disappear and she’d never see him again. “I’d like to think so… I’d like to think so,” she said with her voice trailing off. Snuggling into him was something new for him, but with her, he enjoyed it. He wasn’t tired and thought that he’d had more sleep in the last few days than he’d had in the last year. It did give him some quiet time to just think and reflect on

what was going on with his life and the beauty he held within his arms. In the past, he was just trying to leave before he became attached, but this one had him caught like an enemy in the wrong territory, and he didn’t want to get away.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE Something was going on with Matt. Emmy had been with him for the last two weeks, and she knew his schedule. He had physical therapy three times a day, and he started going to general meetings in the evenings. There was something he wanted to say, and he always looked like he was on the cusp of telling her. As soon as she saw him today, she was going to talk to him about it. She had one of the meals he seemed to like so much —pot roast and mashed potatoes— sitting on the table, and he should be home any minute. Back…she had to stop trying to make this temporary place a home and think about him coming back.

The key jangled in the lock, and for whatever reason she was nervous. Would he think she was trying to be too domesticated? “Hey you,” he said when he entered the kitchen and came over to give her a kiss. Looking all around the kitchen at the feast and the flowers she’d put down to set the mood. “What’s all this?” “Just wanted to have a nice meal ready for you when you got home.” His face screwed up just slightly, and she knew he was thinking about whatever he was keeping from her.

“That’s very sweet. I’ll go wash my hands and be ready to eat.” He walked away slowly, like he knew this wasn’t going to be any old regular dinner, but he returned shortly. She was making their plates and setting them down. All this planning and she didn’t know whether she should talk to him before he ate, while he ate, or after he ate. Should she try to be cute about it, or should she be direct? “Listen, Emmy. I know you’ve sensed something is different, and you’re right. I’ve been trying to think of how to put this and what to say. Until today, I didn’t

even have clearance to tell you, but my memory is back.” “So you remember everything?” She knew she should be happy, but in all actuality, this was what she’d been afraid of. The government didn’t need her for him anymore, but the question was did he still want her around? “I do. I’ve wanted to tell you, but at first I thought it would make you sad, and then I was told that limited people were allowed to know.” She was hungry and now had the answer to the question. She should have waited until after dinner to have this

conversation. “So I’m not really needed anymore?” “I knew you would feel that way, and I didn’t want that. But the truth is that the mission is going to be coming up soon, and I’m going to have to leave. I remembered you talking about your aunt and you finding yourself—and here you are taking care of me. I’m going to be away for the next six month, and I have been wracking my brain trying to figure out something for us. This is one of the reasons I didn’t want to get attached to anyone. It’s the reason I left you the first time without knowing how to get in contact with you. It was for you as much as it was for me.”

She’d wanted him to tell her what was up, and even though she knew that this was what it was, she was upset to hear it. “When are you leaving?” she asked and decided that she wasn’t going to give in to the crying fit she wanted to have. This was what she knew was coming, and she had to accept it. The relationship was more than she’d planned, and this trip had shown her more about herself than she’d ever known. “I’m not sure yet.” He started eating, and she was glad that his words didn’t seem to affect his appetite. Matt actually

seemed like he felt lighter. “I will say that I’m glad that I told you about everything. Being in the military with such a high clearance makes for lonely days and nights, but I’ve appreciated having you here and spending time with you.” “Me too.” She mixed her food together without any real plans to eat it, and as soon as she saw that he was done eating, she jumped up to take his plate to the sink. “You don’t have to wait on me, Emmy. Let me help out.” He said picking up the dishcloth and wiping down the table. “Where do you plan on going next on

your world tour?” She knew he was trying to make her happy with casual conversation, but all she really heard was, “When are you going to be leaving?” Emmy knew she couldn’t stay, just like she knew he had to leave, but just looking at his smiling face was too much. “I’ll get the rest of the kitchen in a bit. I have a headache, and I’m going to go rest.” She went over to Matt to give him a kiss on the cheek. It wasn’t her intention for him to think she was mad at him, because she wasn’t. She was mad at herself for getting involved with a man who she knew wasn’t going to be

around her long. Emmy did everything with abandon when she started feeling comfortable, and he was great at making her feel like she was the most special person in the world. She didn’t look at him as she made her way to the room, but as she saw the bed she hoped she could just close her eyes and get some sleep. The way the bed became blurry before she got into it made her hope that she could at least keep her crying quiet. This wasn’t how she wanted to come across—weak, needy, and crying at the first discussion of him leaving. Was it always going to be like this? Yes. That was the plan. He was going to be deployed to parts unknown, and she was going to continue her journey of self-

discovery. The problem with her discovery was that she really liked spending time with the tall, blue-eyed SEAL who took her breath away whenever he was near. She’d just gotten her luggage back to her in all the craziness after the disaster, and it was going to be time to get back up into the big plane and continue on. The tears were falling freely, and she’d never been so happy that she had all those brothers. They also wouldn’t have let her hear the end of a bout of crying, so she learned to be stealthy and quiet in her tear duct cleaning procedures. The door to the bedroom opened, and

she hoped that he just wanted to change his clothes, but he didn’t seem to be looking for anything, and he wasn’t preparing to leave. It was hard holding her breath, and in a few minutes, he was going to have to do CPR if he didn’t get out of the bedroom. She was afraid to breathe because there was a good chance a sob could come out and that was just not her style. She rolled over to her side away from him so he would think the headache was just too bad to talk right now. “I know that was a lot to process at one time. I’ve hurt you, and I’m sorry. This is one of the reasons I didn’t want to get

involved with anyone. My life isn’t my own, and I’m not able to share all the information that I’d like to with someone I care about.” Matt lay down on the bed and rolled her toward him. The lamp was on, so she wasn’t able to remove the evidence that was running down her face. “I’ve grown to care for you a lot, Emmy, and I know you feel the same way, but my job is dangerous and I don’t want to hold you up.” “This just means that you don’t want me to wait for you.” She tried to use her most powerful voice, but it was falling flat. “I’ve seen what waiting can do to a

person. My mother is one of the sweetest people I know, but the bitterness and anger of waiting for a man who isn’t ever coming back has taken its toll on her. She is suspicious, frustrated, and looks for problems where there aren’t any. I don’t want that for you.” “So I’m just supposed to go off and do my own thing and forget that I fell in love with a SEAL?” Emmy closed her eyes because she let out the one thing she didn’t want to tell him because he’d made her mad. Matt gently took her chin in his hand and turned her face toward his. “Emmy?”

She didn’t want to open her eyes but why not. He knew she was crying, and it wasn’t like he was going to go away. She opened her eyes and saw nothing that she thought she was going to see. There was no sign of anger or a desire to get away from her and all her emotions. He was there, and the understanding on his face made her cry harder. Damn it. “I’m not going to say that I’ve changed my mind about waiting because you know how I feel about that, but I think we should enjoy each other while we’re together. You have an open ticket because of the typhoon, right?” Matt looked into her eyes, and all she knew was that she’d stay for as long as he was

there. They had fun, and the sex was hot, but it was more to her than that. If there was a way she could sign up to be a SEAL so they could be together, she would. “Right,” she said, wondering what he was going to say. “Well, you have a few choices. You can either stay and we can have fun until I have to leave, or you can start you adventure now and we let fate see what’s in store for us.” He continued to look at her, but now she had trouble reading his expression. Did he want her to go or did he want her to stay?

“What would your choice be?” It pained her to hear her voice sound so watery, and she could see that it affected him, too. “You’ve done a lot for me, Emmy. Staying here, when you had other plans, to help me get my memory back on track. I don’t think I’ve heard you complain once about anything—from my mother’s not so nice treatment of you, to your staying alone in this apartment often. You take things in stride, offering up meals and comfort at every turn.” “That was really sweet of you to say all of that, Matt, but you didn’t say what your choice for me would be.”

“The point of me saying all of that is that you’ve done more than enough for me. This whole trip you set out to take was supposed to be about you and what you wanted. I am not going to offer any opinion because this should be based on you.” Matt’s words were making her want to cry again, and she hoped that she could keep it together until she was out of his life. He had enough going on to have to worry about leaving a basket case behind. “I don’t really have an answer for that. I’ve had fun taking care of you. Maybe I’ve been given this opportunity to do it so I could understand my family more.

It’s hard to give it up. When I found out you were regaining your memory, there was a part of me that was sad I wouldn’t be needed anymore, and as happy as I was that you were regaining yourself, I was losing my spot. Does that make any sense to you?” Emmy hoped that she didn’t sound as crazy as she felt she sounded. “That’s understandable. You were given a charge and you felt empowered by fulfilling your duty. It’s kind of like my missions. Have you talked to your family since your revelation?” “I’ve been talking to them frequently. They weren’t happy to find out that I was

in a typhoon and even less happy that I don’t have any plans to come back soon, but I feel like we are all learning more about each other. Hopefully that will make it better whenever I do make it back.” She had wanted to share all of this with Matt, but lately when he was around she just wanted to focus on them because he’d been acting so strangely. “My mother did apologize for not telling me about my aunt’s death. She said that the two of them had talked about it and agreed not to disrupt my schooling. If my aunt knew about it and agreed, I couldn’t stay that angry about it.” Emmy knew true peace when she found out it was one of her aunt’s wishes to keep her out of the loop when she passed on. It made the

week she spent with her a month beforehand all that more special, but it also gave her some new meaning of the vacation. “That’s great. You’ve gotten more on this trip than you imagined.” “That’s the truth. It’s funny how everything works together. If my family problems hadn’t occurred, I’d probably taken the money from my aunt and used it for a house or something, but I wanted away from it all and decided to go off on my own and find myself. Two minutes off the plane and I fall into you.” She laughed at the whole situation, but she was happier than she’d been in months.

None of this told her what she should be doing, so she just went with her heart. Matt lay beside her, watching and listening, like he had all the time in the world, but she knew he had to be tired. With physical therapy a few times a day, secret meetings, and being ambushed by a woman who wanted nothing more than to claim him as her very own had to be tiring, but his eyes had not one touch of droop in them. “How about we just see what happens. You don’t know when you’re going to leave, and I don’t know how long I want to stay. I’ve been having so much fun with you in the bed and out that I’m not

quite ready for it to be over.” “That’s good enough for me,” Matt said and turned off the lights before he pulled her into his arms. She lay within the warmth of his embrace and knew one thing… there was going to be pain when this was over, and it was going to be her pain. However, she was going to enjoy every second until it was over.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR Two months ago, Matt wouldn’t have believed that anything would be more important than his missions. It was the reason he didn’t get close to people, but this one long-haired, brown-eyed woman with her sexy body and beautiful mind had changed him. The unfortunate part was that he couldn’t afford to change now. His mission had been set, and it was the most dangerous mission he’d ever been a part of. There was a chance of capture and the possibility of death. Having his orders signed, sealed, and delivered changed a lot of things. Opening the door of the apartment that

had felt like home to him more than any other time he was enlisted, he could hear Emmy’s sweet voice as she sang some pop song in the kitchen. She had a degree in accounting and had started offering her services to home-based businesses that wanted assistance. A month ago, when he’d asked her to make a decision about if she wanted to stay or leave, he knew he was being a chicken shit. There was no way she was going to want to leave, and with her declaration of love, he knew it. He’d never said the words to her, but he hoped that she felt it in each pussy pounding thrust, nipple bite, ass smack, and hard kiss he gave her.

She hopped over to him when she noticed him enter the kitchen, and he wondered what the next guy she was with would be like. That thought pissed him off so much he had to look away from her. “What’s wrong?” she asked, and he knew that he hadn’t kept the expression that went with his bad thought off his face. He looked at her and thought of his mother. If he did what he was thinking of doing to her, he wondered what she would ultimately think of this time they’d spent together. For him, she was one the most unbelievable partners he’d ever been with. Always up for something new, always ready for sexy fun, and she

liked a bit of roughness with her pleasure. They were built to be coupled, but his life negated that fact. Twenty-one of the twenty-seven SEALS hadn’t made it back from the mission he was getting ready to start, and he’d not leave her waiting for the two men to come to the door and tell her they couldn’t find him. If she even got that. His mother would be the one with the knock on the door, and she was still smarting from not being able to be with him when he recovered from the accident. He couldn’t seem to be able to find the words to answer the question she just asked. Matt wanted to tell her that he was leaving in three days, but he’d

rather her not be here. The best choice was to send her away, but he wanted to give her one last parting gift. He wanted her to remember how good it was between them. “Run,” he told her in a voice that sounded so tired and creepy if it hadn’t come out of his mouth he may have thought to walk quickly away from him. He knew she liked that game, but for just a second, the tide of emotions that had bubbled up within him wanted to erupt, and there was no way he was going to profess his love for Emmy and then kick her out the door. He wanted to spare her feelings—not make them harder to deal with.

He tried to pull himself together when he heard her scamper off, but he was raw, like a sore that had been in a damp boot in wool socks—rubbed raw, bleeding, and infected. Matt walked to the room to find her naked on the bed. Well, naked except for her white good girl panties that they both knew he loved so much. “Are you not hiding today? I thought I told you to run.” “I did run. Right to the bed. You look like you need me, and if that’s the case, I want to be here for you.”

He didn’t know what to say. This wasn’t what he wanted. He wanted to 1ulfill her needs, not have her do anything for him. She’d done enough for him already. “Stop right there.” Emmy jumped out of bed and had her hand out like a traffic cop. That would’ve been funny if she wasn’t naked. Watching her tits sway with her movements stopped any and all humorousness of the situation. “What?” “You think I don’t know you come in here, night after night, trying to pay what you think is my kindness with hot fucks

and hard orgasms, but I’m going to take care of you tonight.” She slid down to the floor, looking like his hottest fantasy. It amazed him how hot he remained for her when he should have had his fill months ago. “I’m going to take your cock out and suck it. Do you have any objections to that?” He opened his mouth to tell her that he wanted to do other things with her, but he was stopped before he could even get a word out. His belt was released, and her hands were in his pants so fast he was almost surprised.

“Before you tell me any of your objections, know that I will have you in my mouth. I’ve missed the taste of your cock and the growl you always make when you come.” “You say I growl when I come all the time,” he countered. “You do, but when your cock is in my mouth and you’re spurting cream down my throat, your growl sounds different. I don’t know if it’s just where I am, or if my hearing is bad all the way down here, but it’s sexy as hell and I want it.” It was like she knew something was coming. His Emmy was sexy as hell, but

not usually this aggressive. This was going to be all the more difficult to do when she was acting like this. Not because he didn’t like it, but because he did. She wasn’t a push over by any means, but when it came to the bedroom, she was usually happy to let him take the reins. This new Emmy was going to be the death of him. She sat there with his cock in her hand rubbing the tip against her lips. The desire to push a bit to get his cock between her lips was strong, but this was her show, and he wanted to see how she was going to play this. “If you want it… feel free to take it. I

hope you’re hungry because I’ve got lots for you to taste.” She smiled against his cock, and damn it if his stomach didn’t do some fucked up thing. This was going to have to end sometime, and god knew he didn’t want to have to say goodbye to her. He had to get in the right mindset, and making googoo eyes and expecting a hard ride in a soft pussy was the wrong mindset to have. She opened up her mouth just a little and placed soft, wet kisses on the tip while she smeared the fat drop of precum that was there.

“Open up, sexy, I’m not going to be able to take too much more of that.” Matt wanted to give her what she wanted, but since he knew so much about her, he knew that she liked him to take control even though she was doing a great job being more aggressive. She moaned and opened her mouth wide to accept him, and the soft slide of her tongue was like a balm. It soothed as it aroused. She smiled as well as she could with her mouth wrapped around him, and he pulled her off for a second. “Was it your goal to wind me up enough to take you like I wanted?” Her eyes cut coyly away from him, and he could feel the growl she loved so

much starting to form in his throat. “I like when you take me. The more excited you are the better. I didn’t know I liked a rough fuck until I met you, but now I can’t get enough. I want it all. Don’t hold back; give me all you’ve got.” It was like a pressure cooker, and he could almost feel the steam coming out of his ears. “Emmy. The things you say are going to get you into such trouble.” “As long as the trouble comes from you, then I’ll gladly accept it. Your cock is tapping your stomach and bobbing. I think you like the naughty words that

come out of my mouth.” He rubbed his thumb along her lips. “It’s not that I don’t love the words and the spirit in which they’re given, but I’m a bit raw today. It’s all about making it good for you.” She bent lower to suck one of his balls into her mouth, and he wondered if she’d been watching porn or if their departure was causing her to act like this. Damn if he didn’t love it, but it was making it harder to think about what was good for her. He wanted to take her with him wherever he went, but that wasn’t a possibility, and if it were, he’d not place her in that kind of danger.

“If you want to make it good for me, then take me like you mean it. Fuck me deep and hard and mark my skin with reminders that you’ve been there.” He looked down on her wet lips and flushed face and decided she was right. Matt was going to give her what she wanted. “Open up, Emmy.” She did as she was told and never let her eyes stray from him. When he brought his hard cock to her mouth, she opened, but he made her wait by tapping his cock against her tongue. “Have you been a good girl?” he asked

her, as she tried to catch his cock in the sexual game of keep away. She nodded and captured his cock just like he’d wanted her to. They were like newlyweds or what newlyweds would be like in his mind. They fucked constantly, and that let both of them knew the quirks and nuances of the other. He knew she liked when he fucked his dick deep into her mouth. It made her hips roll and her head bob to get more in. She was a dick-sucking-goddess, and he didn’t know how he’d gotten so lucky, but he had. “Suck harder, Emmy.”

She bobbed a little faster, and he could see her hand slipping into her panties. That wasn’t going to happen today. “Any orgasm you have comes from me. Whether it’s my mouth, my hand, or my cock—so get your hand out of your panties.” He liked ordering her around, just because she loved getting orders, but he was surprised at how much he meant that directive. Her big eyes stared up at him, and he knew that if he were going to do this much longer, she’d be tasting much more than she was now, and he wanted to come buried so deep in her pussy his balls would bounce on her ass. If he

wanted that to happen, he was going to have to stop thinking like that. She released his cock. “Yes, sir,” she said with a voice that was filled with the need to climax. Holy fuck, Emmy was hot. He pulled her up from the floor and pushed her softly so she’d fall on the bed. She fell with her legs open wide, and he couldn’t help but smile. Falling between her legs, he went right for the glistening knot of nerves at the top of her mound. Sweet, warm, fragrant pussy filled his senses… the smell, the taste, and the vision filled him, and he felt like he was going to come apart. Never in his

adult life had he come against the sheets while eating out a woman no matter how she tasted or looked, but he was close as fuck now. He usually liked to get her off once before he got his dick wet with her juices, but he was trying to stop from coming as soon as his dick touched her no-no place—so he wasn’t going to try to do that now. Ripping the condom with his teeth, he rolled it on and gave Emmy’s pussy a few light taps just because he loved the sound her wet pussy made when contact was made. She pumped her hips up to get better contact, but he wasn’t having that right now either.

She spread herself wide without him even asking her, and it was like they both knew something different was going on. “You wanted all I had… right?” he asked, wanting to make sure that she still wanted that because he wasn’t going to hold back if she agreed, as it was it was hard for him to wait for him to answer the question. “Give it all to me. Balls deep, Matt. I want you so deep I’ll feel you in my throat.” Emmy reached down and grabbed his ass as if she could make him go deeper than he was already going. The sound that tore from him didn’t even

sound human, and he pushed in all the way to the hilt without his preliminary strokes and clit rubs. It felt damn good, and he hammered home again and again, watching her tits swing and sway. It was his own cardinal sin to come before his partner, but he needed to work fast because his balls were tight against his body, and the pressure was high. He knew how those volcanos had to feel because the eruption that was getting ready to happen was going to be epic. He reached down and placed his hand on her clit, and her breath stopped for just a second. It was good to know that she was on such a hair trigger as well. He gripped it between his fingers and pumped in five quick thrusts, and they

went over together in loud moans, convulsing bodies and wet slapping parts. It took him a minute or so to figure out if his heart was going to continue to beat or had the damn thing just stopped. When he finally got himself together, he looked up to see what Emmy would make of that, and the smile that greeted him was blinding. There were times that he’d thought he’d done pretty well by this person or that, but he’d never been as satisfied as he was now… with his partner… with his life… and with the decision to let her go. She didn’t deserve the life that she’d be thrown in if she stayed with him.

Getting up and moving away from her body was difficult, but as he went to the bathroom to get something for her to clean up with and dispose of the condom, he made himself put on the strength he knew he had within him. Would his heart ever recover? He wasn’t sure, but he knew one thing… Emmy wasn’t going to turn into his mother because of him.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE The time was near. Emmy didn’t know that much about relationships, but she knew what she had with Matt was special. However, with every gesture, glance, touch, and taste, she could feel Matt pulling back. There was something particularly brutal in the air tonight because he didn’t even want to eat dinner before telling her to run. That ritual that he would pull out was something wonderful because it showed he knew she liked to be playful, and he knew she liked to be held down, told what to do, and fucked hard. Whatever his plan was, she didn’t want

to hear it while she was naked and sweaty. There wasn’t much she could do about the sweaty since he was in the bathroom, but damned if she couldn’t fix the naked. She figured she could reheat the dinner and have a meal. There was no way she was going to be able to choke down any food, but she could prepare it for him. The plates were set and the glasses filled when he came to the kitchen, and she could almost see the grim reaper of relationships following him out. “Emmy the time we’ve spent together has been awesome, but I’ve got my orders and I’m leaving in a few days.”

“Well, that’s a few more days we have to spend together,” Emmy said, as she turned around to fiddle with something on the counter. Looking at him trying to put her down gently was hell. She should have stopped him or told him he knew what this was all about, but a part of her hoped that he wouldn’t be able to get it out of his mouth. She heard paper rustling, and he walked closer to her. “Here is a plane ticket to the Philippines and your itinerary. You leave tomorrow morning.” She turned around to look at him and couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“You could have told me; I would have made my own plans. I don’t need to be kicked out of here, Matt. I deserve to be treated better than that.” “You’re right, of course, but there is no time to piddle about this and that. I’m going to be gone soon, and I don’t know when I’ll be back.” “We’ve talked a lot about our lives, and I’ve listened to every word you’ve said. You don’t want me to wait around for you and be bitter; you’re sorry for the things your mother has gone through; and you want to be able to help her out more. See, I listen, but you… not so much. There is really one thing I want people

to do for me, and that is to let me make my own decisions. I’ve confessed my love for you, and I’ve never been upset that those words haven’t reached my ears from your mouth, but I’ve felt them. I’m not going to ask you to confirm what I’m saying because I think you’re making a point, but I am, too.” In the middle of her speech, Matt leaned so his butt was against the countertop and his eyes were on the floor. That may not seem like much to the regular person, but Matt didn’t look down from anyone or anything…but here he was not looking at her. “What are you saying that I didn’t hear?”

He studied her face in the way she loved so much, and she bit the inside of her cheek to keep from crying. There was no way she was going to let a pity party get in the way of what she had to say. “I left my family because people wanted to protect me so much they didn’t realize that I knew how to do that myself. You planned out my whole trip because you didn’t think I was strong enough to let you go. I know you have a job to do, and I know you don’t want me to wait, but that’s my decision… not yours.” They stared at each other, and she waited to see what he was going to say, but it didn’t look like he was going to

say another word. He nodded his head, but she knew that—in his mind—it was over. She was done with this; she’d gather her things and get to a hotel. She’d gone from having a large amount of money available to her to having even more from her online accounting firm she’d created with her vast amount of spare time. He grabbed her arm as she passed, and as much as she wanted to deny him, she couldn’t. “What Matt? You had nothing to say while I was talking, and basically we’ve just had our goodbye fuck, so what else could you possibly want?”

“I know that you don’t like people making plans for you, and I should have thought about that before I made the plans for you. I did it for a few different reasons.” “Like?” She wasn’t going to let him off easy with this one. “I know that was where you were on your way to before you got side tracked with the storm and my health issues.” He pulled her to the couch and sat her on his lap. “For someone who’s kicking me swiftly out the door, you sure are grabby.”

“I just found out today that I’m leaving in a few days, and that means I won’t be home much and I’ll deploy when they see fit. I don’t want to leave you here stranded.” “Are you telling me you didn’t know I had my own money and didn’t need you to pay for my ticket? I’ve never asked you for anything, and yet there has always been food here for you to eat and your favorite beer has always been available.” She watched him look around his house like it was the first time he’d noticed all the things she did here, but he wasn’t deterred.

“Also, it’s not about me kicking you out swiftly. It was just easier if we did this quickly because it’s going to kill me to say goodbye to you. I’d hoped that if we did it like removing a Band-Aid it would be better for both of us.” “So you were thinking of me when you decided that I needed to be gone tomorrow.” “Yes.” She gave him a quick kiss on his cheek and stood up. “Alright then, Matt. I’ll grant your wish. I’ll leave tomorrow, and I won’t make you say goodbye.”

He stood with her and the big strong SEAL looked like he’d been knocked back a peg. That wasn’t truly her plan, but she was happy that he was at least concerned about what was going on in her mind for a change. She went to the room and quickly threw all her things in her suitcase before she called the cab. “Where are you going tonight?” he asked when she’d come out of the room. She’d barred him from coming in because she knew he’d try to get her to stop her plans and let them stay one more night together.

“I’m going to a hotel. Since my flight is so early in the morning, I want to be close to the airport.” She knew she was being ridiculous because the island was small enough that this wasn’t necessary, but there were some calls she wanted to make, and she didn’t think she could make them here. He nodded, and she knew that he was probably knew that she needed to feel like she owned this a little more—even though it was a quicker end to what they had. It wasn’t like Matt had changed his mind about her waiting for him. She moved to the door and the utter surprise on his face made her want to

stay, but if he didn’t ask, she wouldn’t do it. He came to the door and picked up her suitcase. “I’m going to walk you down to the cab, which I know you called.” She could only nod and watch him bend down and get her suitcase. “Wait one second.” Matt ran into the room and was there for a few seconds before he returned with her suitcase still in hand. They made it downstairs quickly, and if she didn’t get into the cab right at this very second, she was going to break down in tears and beg him to come back to her, but she knew that was his worst

nightmare, so she kept her back straight and her head up as she watched the cabbie and Matt put her luggage in the trunk. He gave the cabbie money and then came back to see her before she could sit down in the back of the cab. “I’m not one to get all emotional out in public or in private, but I wanted to say thank you.” That wasn’t what she was thinking she was going to hear. “For what?” “For making me smile more, for sitting with me when my family hadn’t made it

yet, for changing your plans, for loving me… for just being you. I don’t know what my future holds, but I wish you nothing but the best. I hope when you think of me a smile crosses your mouth and you heat up just a little bit.” He smiled at her, and his bright blue eyes sparkled like he liked the thought of that. “I hope the same thing for you.” She reached up, kissed him, and slid into the seat. When the cabbie pulled off, she looked back, waved, and saw him put his hand up to wave back. This shouldn’t have hurt so much. It was a simple affair that was supposed to teach her a bit about herself. She knew

that he had been planning something, but so was she. Would it work? She wasn’t sure since the person she had to talk to could go either way when it came to her, but she’d try.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX 7 months later1 It had been a hard few months, but he was finally going home. There were so many times that Matt wanted to pick up his cell and call Emmy, but that was before he’d been taken as a prisoner of war. It hadn’t been for long, thank god, but for two months of his life he’d been treated like the lowest piece of shit and beaten within an inch of his life. While he was there, he figured out that Emmy was a gift that was given to him to help him during that period of time. During the fifty-nine days he’d been held

captive, he’d thought about her every day. He’d thought of her before that, but when he was in there, he thought of her smile, her laugh, and the way she always tried to make everything positive. He’d talked to physiatrists and counselors to make sure his mind was alright before he was released to the civilian population, and all he could think about was Emmy. Since he no longer had her phone number and he didn’t have enough information to contact her, he hoped that she found his dog tags that he’d dropped into her bag at the last minute. He hadn’t seen his childhood home in the last few years, as his mother liked to come to where he was or close to it so

she could see the world. His key still fit into the lock, and he pushed open the door, hoping that she didn’t have a surprise party waiting for him. The house was quiet, and there was a note and a plate of food on the counter. Well, he didn’t want a big showing for his return, but one person there would have been nice. He dropped his bag near the door and sat down at the table feeling mentally and physically exhausted. He was a civilian now, and he hoped that he could start feeling like it, because now he just felt old and alone. He was stupid to push Emmy away like

he had, but he didn’t feel like he’d had a choice. She’d left for the Philippines as planned because she wasn’t at any hotel nor was she in the airport… he’d checked. It wasn’t like he was going to cover any different information, but he just wanted to say something. He regretted not telling her he loved her, but at the time, his reasons for not telling her were solid. “Would you like me to warm up your food for you?” a soft voice that sounded familiar said, and he remembered that his mother had taken up a border to help with the bills and rent. It was rude to not introduce himself, but he supposed that she knew who he was since she wasn’t

freaking out with a man just walking in the house. “That’s alright. I think I just I’ll head up to bed.” He looked over to see the shapely woman taking the plate and putting it in the microwave anyway. “Is my mother home?” “She’s out at bowling tonight, but she’ll be home shortly.” The woman was moving around the kitchen, and her sweet smell was as arousing as it was familiar. Getting hot for a woman in the same house your mother took her morning coffee and talked to her friend Glenda in was not cool at all, but he didn’t seem to be able to stop it.

There was something about her that was making him horny as hell, but that couldn’t be right. It was like the lights had been turned off when Emmy left…. Or rather when he had to go on a mission and pushed her away. There had been opportunities for him to do something sexual, but he just wasn’t interested. The woman seemed to be flirting with him, and that was turning on so very many buttons. When he’d talked to his mother and she told him about her roommate, she was always so happy to talk about her. The funny thing was he’d suggested a roommate for her long ago and nearly got his ear chewed off, so

either his mother needed additional money, which was hard to believe, or she had a soft spot for this woman in some way. She slid the plate across the table, and he looked up to thank her, but no words left his mouth. Emmy stood there looking like everything he’d ever wanted in his life, and he didn’t know if the mental instability that the doctors had been throwing around were true, or if she were really standing right in front of him. “Matt? Say something.” She stood there looking like the angel he thought she was, but her eyes held an anxiety that

only came when you weren’t sure if you were going to be rejected or not. That was certainly not the case when it came to her, but he could see how it would seem that way. “Are you really here?” He put his hand to her face and stroked her cheek. “That’s the first thing you can ask?” She laughed and snuggled up to his hand. “Yes, I’m really here.” “When, why, how…?” The questions just kept coming, and he didn’t know how to stop them but decided to just shut his mouth so she could tell him the answers to some of the questions.

“Well, I called your mother from the hotel and asked if she knew of an apartment I could rent near her. She asked why, and I told her that you didn’t want me to wait for you because you’d seen what waiting had done to her, but I was going to wait anyway. I hoped that she’d let me wait near her so that I’d have more information about you. When I got here, she said that I could start off here and then maybe we could look for an apartment later if it didn’t work out.” “You’ve been here with my mother the whole time I was away?” he asked, amazed that his mother could keep a secret for so long. “Why didn’t she tell

me that you were here?” “She said you never asked. There were times I’d hear her talk about her roommate and what we were doing, but you didn’t seem that interested.” She looked like that knowledge hurt, and he could understand that, but she looked like she needed a bit more information about where his mind was at the time of those calls. “I wasn’t, but that was because I didn’t know it was you. I thought she was trying to set me up with someone and I didn’t really want to hear much about her. If she would have said your name, we could have been chatting for a good

while now.” “The why is that I started this trip to learn about myself, and I did that. I learned that I was strong and capable of making my own decision, and the first one I made was that I wanted a real relationship with you, but I knew that you didn’t want me to wait. That wasn’t your decision, but I let you have your time without me, hoping you would spend your time thinking about me.” The smile on her face told him she thought she was pretty witty, and he’d have to agree. “It’s been hard the last few months.”

“I’d heard. When you’d gotten captured, we didn’t know anything about it, and the only time they told us about it was when it was over.” She put her hand on his face and watched him try to figure all this out. “We were denied access to come and see you, but your mother sent you packages and I added to them.”

“Yes, I got them, but I wanted you.” He told her, looking like he still couldn’t believe she was in front of his eyes. “I’ve been here waiting for my prince to arrive, or at least ask about me.” He drew his fingers down her cheek, and

when he got to her neck, he saw the dog chain that had his name, age, and social security number on it. “You wear this?” he asked her solemnly. “Ever since I saw that you put it in my luggage, I haven’t been without it.” She must have noticed that he wasn’t going to eat anything. “If you’re still tired, I’m sure your mother wouldn’t mind if you didn’t see her until tomorrow.” She stood there, wringing her hands, and he didn’t think he’d seen behavior like that since he first met her. Was she nervous, self-conscious, weirded out by his new appearance?

“I stick by my earlier words that say that I’m not really hungry and would like to lay down, but I want to add another few words to go with that.” He studied her and could almost taste her skin from where he stood, but he was tired of his imagination. “What could that be?” She said as she watched him get a glass from the cupboard and getting a cup of coffee. With a smile on his face and in his heart, he couldn’t believe his good fortune of having this woman with him. She’d have to convince him to let her go, and it would have to be a strong argument or he’d have to feel that she was done. Her

being in his childhood home and living with his mother was a good sign that she wanted to try for something serious. “I love you, Emmy.” Her eyes got wide, and she started blinking really quickly. He’d always been slightly unsettled by her tears, but these were going to be happy ones. It was something he’d never said to another woman, but when he was locked away from civilization and thinking of his regrets, he didn’t have many but that one loomed over him like a black cloud. He knew that he’d get the opportunity to fix that error, but he had no idea it would be this soon.

“I love you too, Matt.” She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him all over his face. “I’ve wanted to say that for a good long while, but that wasn’t the word I thought of when I first figured out you were in the home of my childhood.” “It wasn’t?” She looked puzzled, and he could barely contain his pleasure over how his life had turned out. “No, it was before that. Where are you sleeping?” The house was only so big, and it only had two bedrooms. Would his mother have made her sleep on the

couch, or had she bought a cot? “I’m sleeping in your bed. I hope you don’t mind. Your mother said you wouldn’t have a problem with it.” He set her down and away from him because after all he’d been through in the last few months, his body had been shut down. However, now it felt like he was on fire, and his nerves were just waking up after a long slumber. “You look upset, Matt. Are you angry?” “Angry? Why? Because you’re in my bed? Emmy that’s the best place in the world for you. I’m not mad about that at

all. I think you have confused my angry face with my lust-filled face. Just thinking about you rubbing around in my sheets and resting your head on my pillow has me so hard I can barely see.” He told her honestly. “Alright,” she said trying to give him a smile. “Then, what was the word that came to mind when you saw me then?” “Run.” Emmy took off in a fit of giggles, and this time she had a little more room to move, and she’d better move quickly because he was ready, hungry, and now happy for the future that looked so bright

he was going to need suntan lotion. THE END

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OWNED BY THE BAD BOY I DON’T PLAN ON STOPPING UNTIL SHE’S CARRYING MY KID. SCOTT I swore to protect her. Keep her safe

from the demons of her past. I didn’t expect to pull her into my bed. One night was all it took. To break her walls, to make her feel alive again. But once wasn’t enough, and all I wanted was more. The President made her off limits. Said he’d put a bullet in anyone who laid a hand on her.

Too bad for him, I did more than that. Until she’s carrying my kid. Until she’s wearing my ring. Until I make her mine. JESSICA I swore off outlaws—after the last one left me nearly dead—I swore never again. Until I came face-to-face with Scott: the sexy bastard who’d knock down all my walls and set my world on fire. I wanted to fight him, to push him away while hiding how hard it was to keep my hands off him.

It wasn’t a battle I could win. And when he stares me in the eye, promising that he’ll make me his and that he’s not taking no for an answer. I can’t help think that there’s no way he could be wrong.

BRUTE Dawson I hurt people for a living. There’s no room in my life for love. But that was before I met Mari.

I’ve never met anyone like her before. Pure. Innocent. Begging to be corrupted. She won't be the first girl I’ve pulled into my bed. But I’ll be damned if she isn’t the first one that I want to make MINE.

Mari

He doesn’t just stare at me, he f***s me with his eyes. And when he asked me for a favor—a favor that goes against all of my better judgments, I should have backed away. I should have kept my distance. I should have said no. Because once I stepped into his world… There was no way out.

COLE I’M NOT A HERO

Cole My heart belongs to my club and nowhere else. I don’t love, and my only commitment is to my brothers. Until Nicole. She was supposed to be just another job—but more importantly, off limits. … But that was before I pulled her in my bed. Now, I can’t get her out of my mind. I want her to scream my name.

I need her begging for more. She thinks I’m just a thug to keep her in line. But that won’t stop me from making her MINE. Nicole Life on the street has turned me into what I am today: a call girl. All I wanted was out, but what I got instead was Cole Porter. Six-foot-four and covered in tats, Cole’s the strong-arm biker meant to keep me in line and keep unruly customers at arm’s length. My protector and jailer.

I’m not supposed to talk to him. I’m not supposed to look at him. I’m not supposed to run my hands along his hard body. … and I’m definitely not supposed to beg him to make me HIS.

INKED I’M NOT YOUR F***ING PRINCE CHARMING Alex I live and die for my club, and I bury anyone who gets in my way. Nothing else matters. Not until Krishna. Innocent and pure, with eyes begging for a savior.

A good girl trapped with a gang of exconvicts. One look and I know what I want, what I NEED: To corrupt her. To defile her. To make her MINE. and make her scream for more. Krishna HE’S A DEVIL—A DEMON COVERED IN SCARS, MUSCLE, AND TATTOOS. A devil that took me, claimed me, and used me for his pleasure until I was

screaming his name. A splash of ink, a tattoo, and now Alex Gordon thinks he owns me. I should run. I should get out while I can. But each time he touches me. Each time his gravelly voice rumbles in my ear… “You’re mine.” …I know he won’t stop. Not until there’s nothing of the old me left.

Not until he’s made me HIS

TEASE THIS WASN’T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN I never thought for a million years I’d be in a town so small that it doesn’t even exist on a map. I never thought for a million years I’d set foot in an outlaw biker club house. I certainly never thought that I’d jump into bed with one of them…

Arrogant, cocky, and wickedly handsome underneath all his tattoos and leather, Vance Coldman is every one of my sinful fantasies come true. The word ‘no’ isn’t a part of his vocabulary, not out here in the desert where violence is law and might is right. I’ve never gotten a chance to sample his dark forbidden world. Not until now. But something tells me that he intends on giving me more than just a glimpse. … and that he doesn’t plan on holding

back. ~~~ Violence is law and might is right in my world. A man will do everything he can to defend his property—be it his bike or his woman. Out here, a man makes his own luck. That’s the way I’ve lived. Anything else is just slavery with a better name. So when she’s asking for a taste of my world, she’s getting it all. But what she doesn’t seem to understand is this:

When you step into my world, you’re not leaving. Not now, not later. NOT EVER